Moorland and villages nearby have been picking up the pieces following the floods of nearly two years ago.

“One of the things we found when were flooded was the community disintegrated,” said Kate Symonds. “This plan will mean in the future is here is a flood or a civil emergency then everyone will know where there is help, if for instance who has a tractor to tow a car that has got stuck. It’s so we don’t get into the situation we were in before when we didn’t know what was happening.”

She said the village was put in an impossible situation when the flood waters rose swamping almost every house in the village.

“This is a small community,” she said, “where we know everyone. But we were in a position where we didn’t know where everyone was. I started a newsletter to get in touch with everyone to let them know what was happening. A week later the lunch club in North Petherton had over 70 people from Moorland and Fordgate there because we told everyone to go there. The flood plan has grown out of that.”

Moorland, Fordgate and West Yeo now have civic plans following the floods to prepare the villages for future emergencies. Each plan takes into account of the local geography and the needs of the settlements and is operated by residents like Mrs Symonds. She said if there was a zombie invasion or a snow fall then the flood plan would remain in place.

Somerset Rivers Authority is proposing a multi-million pound scheme to protect the Somerset Levels and Moors from flooding. Following on from the major work (pictured below) at Beer Wall on the A372, further improvements are being discussed for the River Sowy and King’s Sedgemoor Drain, from Monk’s Leaze Clyse near Langport down to Dunball sluice north of Bridgwater.

A public drop-in session about this scheme is being held at Othery Village Hall on Wednesday, 3 February, 2.30pm-7.30pm.