Somerset has declared a major incident due to the devastating effects of Storm Chandra, which brought torrential rain and strong winds to south-west England. The storm caused widespread disruption, with estimated 50 properties affected by flooding across several towns, including Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford, and West Camel.
The Somerset council has warned that the risk of further flooding on the Somerset Levels remains high due to rainwater moving through the system. The council leader, Bill Revans, described Storm Chandra as a "widespread disruption" event, with teams working around the clock to respond to reports of impassable roads.
The storm also had a significant impact on other parts of the country, including Devon and Northern Ireland, where schools were closed and hundreds of flights were cancelled. In Cornwall, residents were left without power, water, or internet after Storm Goretti earlier this month.
In Devon, one resident described how he and his sons were trapped by floodwater upstairs in their house, forcing them to wade through waist-deep water to fetch supplies. The area was also severely affected, with the River Otter reaching its highest level on record.
Devon County Council has expressed concerns about the region's resilience to extreme weather events, saying it feels "left behind" compared to other parts of the country that have received more funding for flood defences and rail services.
The Met Office has issued 96 flood warnings in England, with 250 alerts, and 17 floods were issued across Scotland. A yellow weather warning is also in place for South West England on Thursday, with further rain expected to bring more flooding and transport disruption.
Climate experts have warned that extreme rainfall events are becoming more common and intense due to human-caused climate change. Beavers, which live along the River Otter, face a threat from rapidly rising and moving water during floods, while residents of the Somerset Levels fear their homes could be at risk again if maintenance funding is not increased.
The declaration of a major incident highlights the need for greater investment in flood defences and resilience measures in south-west England to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.
The Somerset council has warned that the risk of further flooding on the Somerset Levels remains high due to rainwater moving through the system. The council leader, Bill Revans, described Storm Chandra as a "widespread disruption" event, with teams working around the clock to respond to reports of impassable roads.
The storm also had a significant impact on other parts of the country, including Devon and Northern Ireland, where schools were closed and hundreds of flights were cancelled. In Cornwall, residents were left without power, water, or internet after Storm Goretti earlier this month.
In Devon, one resident described how he and his sons were trapped by floodwater upstairs in their house, forcing them to wade through waist-deep water to fetch supplies. The area was also severely affected, with the River Otter reaching its highest level on record.
Devon County Council has expressed concerns about the region's resilience to extreme weather events, saying it feels "left behind" compared to other parts of the country that have received more funding for flood defences and rail services.
The Met Office has issued 96 flood warnings in England, with 250 alerts, and 17 floods were issued across Scotland. A yellow weather warning is also in place for South West England on Thursday, with further rain expected to bring more flooding and transport disruption.
Climate experts have warned that extreme rainfall events are becoming more common and intense due to human-caused climate change. Beavers, which live along the River Otter, face a threat from rapidly rising and moving water during floods, while residents of the Somerset Levels fear their homes could be at risk again if maintenance funding is not increased.
The declaration of a major incident highlights the need for greater investment in flood defences and resilience measures in south-west England to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.
ugh, can't even imagine living in somerset right now 
I mean i feel bad for everyone affected by storm chandra but seriously 96 flood warnings? that's crazy 
climate change is for real and it's hitting us hard. the thought of beavers struggling to survive in their own habitats because of rising water levels is heartbreaking 
we need to do better, like so much better. increased funding for flood defences and resilience measures isn't enough, we need systemic changes too 
it's not just about throwing money at the problem, it's about addressing the root causes of climate change and its devastating effects on our planet 
. I mean, 50 properties affected by flooding? That's crazy! It's not just about the homes getting damaged, but also the people who are struggling to cope with the aftermath.
. I get it, they need more funding for flood defences and rail services, but can't they just ask for a bit more support like everyone else?
, but we need to do something about it ASAP! Beavers are already dealing with the impacts of rising water levels, and residents in Somerset Levels are worried about their homes being at risk again if maintenance funding isn't increased 
. It's time for us to invest in our infrastructure and make sure that extreme weather events don't become the norm 
.
! But seriously, Storm Chandra is a major bummer. I mean, who needs roads impassable when you can have beavers' homes at risk, right? 
But for real, climate change is no joke, and we need to step up our flood defences game ASAP. Somerset Council is like, "Hey, Bill Revans here" 
... I mean, seriously though, increasing maintenance funding would help a lot. Let's get that beaver pond party started! 
, and I was wadin through floodwater with a bunch of buckets like that one kid from Devon you saw on the news earlier 
. Storm Chandra is crazy 
. It's time to up our flood defences game and take care of those beavers too 
. Somerset needs more funding ASAP 
, it's like they're stuck in a nightmare 
and beavers are like totally affected too poor little guys 
especially when they need more funding for flood defences and rail services it's all just so frustrating 
. Devon County Council's concerns about feeling "left behind" are hard to argue with - it feels like we're only just starting to scratch the surface when it comes to investing in flood defences and resilience measures 
... beavers, who play such a vital role in shaping their ecosystems, are facing some serious challenges. It's a sobering reminder of the interconnectedness of our planet and the need for us to work together to mitigate the effects of climate change 
. And it's not just Somerset that's being hit – other parts of Devon and Northern Ireland are also feeling the pinch.
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ugh, another storm hitting england 
, our lovely south-west england gets hit by torrential rain & strong winds 
... major incident declaration is a big deal 
. our country needs more funding for these things ASAP 
and give those flood victims the support they deserve 
like, can't we just use drones or something to scout out areas?! sounds like devon & somerset r really struggling with this whole flood thing lol 
but seriously tho, climate change is no joke fam, it's getting crazy out here 
so many people r losing their homes & livelihoods 
gotta do better, imo.
climate change is no joke we need more funding for flood defences ASAP and a way to help our beaver buddies out 
and people had to wade through waist-deep water to get supplies 
.
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. Let's get those beavers safe and sound, and let's make sure our communities can withstand the wild weather. The future of our planet depends on it 
... it's just too much for one region to handle 
! We need more investment in flood defences ASAP 
. Somerset needs some serious support to mitigate the damage and protect those communities #FloodRelief #ClimateAction #SupportSomerset