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England and Wales get whipped by high winds, heavy rain as flooding hits southwest; 1 death
Topic Started: 24 Nov 2012, 01:35 AM (174 Views)
skibboy
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England and Wales get whipped by high winds, heavy rain as flooding hits southwest; 1 death

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Posted Image
A vehicle crosses a flooded roadway in Chew Stoke,Somerset England, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. England and Wales have been whipped by high winds and heavy rain, causing floods, downing trees and stranding drivers. Authorities in southern England say one man was killed after his car trapped under a bridge by the rising water. (AP Photo/PA, Ben Birchall)

LONDON - England and Wales have been whipped by high winds and heavy rain, causing floods, downing trees and stranding drivers.

Authorities in southern England say one man was killed after his car trapped under a bridge by the rising water.

Gusts reached more than 86 mph (138 kph) in Wales' mountainous Capel Cruig overnight, while the rains set off a mini-landslide in the small southwestern England fishing port of Mevagissey, disrupting operations at the harbour.

At midday Friday, England's Environment Agency still had 77 flood warnings in place.

Train services were disrupted, roads closed and bridges restricted as Britons struggled to recover from the storms.

The cross-Channel ferry linking England to France also reported minor delays.

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skibboy
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25 November 2012 Last updated at 01:04 GMT

Homes evacuated amid further rain

Posted Image
River levels have now dropped in Millbrook, Cornwall

Severe flood warnings are in place as saturated parts of the UK are hit by more heavy rain and strong winds.

In some areas of Cornwall people have been told to leave their homes as floodwater and torrential rain caused "serious threats to life and property".

Severe flood warnings have been issued in Polperro, Helston, Perranporth and Lostwithiel.

The Environment Agency has more than 100 flood warnings and about 200 flood alerts in place in England and Wales.

And the Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for heavy rain.

Severe flood warnings mean severe flooding and danger to life.

Flood warnings mean people should take action because flooding is expected, while flood alerts indicate people should prepare for possible flooding.

-A woman is trapped under a fallen tree in Paris Street, Exeter

-"Rest centres" have been set up for residents in the villages facing severe warnings. But river levels around Millbrook have dropped and a rest centre opened there has since been closed

-Roads have been closed across the region due to flooding. Exmouth in Devon has been cut off, with the A376 closed by police

-The M5 is closed southbound between the junctions for Taunton and Wellington, while the M48 is closed in both directions due to flooding between J2 M48 Severn Bridge and M4 J23
The RNLI's south west flood rescue team have been asked to assist the emergency services in Exeter, Devon, with two inshore lifeboats

-National Rail said there were delays between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids due to flooding and a landslip. The replacement buses have been cancelled on some routes

-Network Rail said trains were likely to be disrupted between Exeter, Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads until Monday

-A body thought to be that of a man who fell into a canal in fog in Watford has been found

Emergency services, rescue crews and the Environment Agency met Cornwall council bosses during Saturday evening in a bid to spread the message about the danger to life and property.

Devon and Cornwall Police said about 75 homes had been affected across the county.

Spokesman Ian Walls said: "Rest centres have been set up overnight, for people who need to leave their homes and have nowhere else safe to go.

"I'm not sure how much sleep they will get, but it is a way of keeping them safe. I don't want to overstate it, but when there is a real danger to life - as there can be with just a foot of floodwater - then action needs to be taken."

Alan Crockford, a pub landlord in Polperro, said there had been warnings but "nobody knew it would get this bad".

He said: "I was actually in my house and I heard a roar, and just looked outside the window and that was the first bit of water that just, just came down the hill, like a river running straight down the road.

"We were given warnings from Floodline, and they just said like to take care, we were never given any firm warning that you had to evacuate and no one knew to expect it this bad."

Defences shored up

The Met Office has been forecasting heavy rain and strong winds across all parts of the country over the weekend.

Posted Image
Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to bring more flooding across parts of England and Wales

The Environment Agency said strong winds would increase the risk of flash flooding as drainage channels were likely to become blocked with wind-blown debris.

"The rain will spread north and east, increasing flood risk in north-east and north-west England on Sunday. The picture remains unsettled for the start of next week," a spokesman said.

John Curtin, head of incident management at the Environment Agency, said: "We would urge people to continue to be prepared for flooding, sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings, keep up to date with the latest situation and stay away from dangerous flood water."

Strong winds

BBC forecasters said south west of England had seen between one and two inches of rain (25mm to 50mm) during Saturday evening, but the worst had passed. It would now be dry for a time with further showers into Sunday morning.

source: Posted Image
Edited by skibboy, 25 Nov 2012, 03:10 AM.
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skibboy
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Firefighters called to flooding incidents

Tuesday 27th November 2012

MOTORISTS have been warned not to drive through flooded areas after a spate of call-outs across the county.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said it had been called to both drivers trapped in cars and residents battling against flood water, including an incident in Colchester.

Details of specific incidents have not been released at this time.

The fire brigade has released the following advice:

Drivers should avoid floodwater.

Just two feet of water is enough to float a car and six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars; this depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.

Motorists should never attempt to drive through water deeper than the centre of their wheels.

If water gets into the car’s air intake or into the electrics the car will stop leaving driver and passengers trapped.

The water could also be hiding damaged road or missing manhole covers.

Motorists should take particular care when crossing fords, these often become flooded and extremely dangerous with fast flowing water.

DO Neil Fenwick said: “Every time there is flooding the Service has to rescue people who have driven their cars into flood water.

"When faced with water drivers should exercise a little common sense. If they can they should find an alternative route. If there is no way round they should park safely and get out to check the depth of the water before they drive into it.

"Just driving into water and hoping for the best is not an option, by the time you find out the water is too deep you are already trapped.”

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skibboy
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FLOODS VICTIM DIES TRAPPED IN HIS OWN HOME

28th November 2012 By Richard Spillett

THE body of an elderly woman was recovered from her flooded home yesterday.

She was found floating in the water by rescuers running from house to house to alert storm-hit families.

Streets in St Asaph, Denbighshire, were swamped as the River Elwy burst its banks and 500 homes were evacuated.

The woman, who has yet to be named, became the fourth victim of floods which have affected large parts of the country.

Last night the Army was on standby in North Yorkshire after an eighth day of heavy rain.

PM David Cameron, meanwhile, visited victims in Devon and vowed to end the political squabbling that could leave 200,000 homes uninsured.

He said: “We have to make sure their insurance pays out, make sure the Environment Agency puts in place good flood defences, make sure there are better warning schemes.

“There are always lessons to learn and I wanted to come here and hear it for myself.”

The Environment Agency is warning of more destruction to come as floodwaters move downstream and sub-zero temperatures move in from the Arctic.

They fear filthy water sitting in around 1,000 homes could freeze in -15C conditions.

Forecasters say the flooding could begin all over again next week with more heavy rain predicted for Monday and Tuesday.

The Weather Channel forecast two inches of weekend snow in east and south-east England, with -15C nights in Scotland.

Police are also warning families about dodgy builders.

A police spokesman in Cornwall said: “We are urging those affected by flooding to be on the alert for rogue traders and cowboy builders.

“They are totally unscrupulous and they are looking to exploit the damage, devastation and misery caused by the recent floods.”

Tributes were paid to Graham Gillson, 70, from Somersham, Cambs, who died when his car plunged into the River Great Ouse at Earith.

Ray Watts, 62, who worked for Mr Gilson’s dry cleaning business, said: “He was lovely, polite and caring.”

Meanwhile in Brighton a slick of raw sewage was floating near the beach.

The year-round swimming club had to abandon its morning dip in the polluted waters.

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By Etan Smallman - 29th November, 2012

Roads turn into rinks as polar blast bites drivers

Motorists face a rush-hour ice rink on the school run this as flood waters wash grit off the roads.

Posted Image
Led to water: A horse stands in a flooded field near Harrogate, north Yorkshire. More rain is expected on Sunday (Picture: Jonathan Pow)

Bitterly cold winds are delivering winter’s first freeze, prompting a severe ice alert from the Met Office and government health warnings.

Snow flurries are expected on hills in the north and west of England and in parts of Scotland.

The Midlands and north could wake up to 2cm of snow on Saturday, while sleet is forecast for the south-east, The Weather Channel added.

There is little respite for those living in flood-risk areas, with ‘persistent rainfall’ on the way.

Biting northerly winds were described as ‘the start of our journey on the Polar Express’ by British Weather Services.

Forecasters predicted -5C (23F) lows this morning after yesterday’s -7.3C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, and -6.2C in Sennybridge, Powys. Today will see bitter 2C highs in the north and 5C in the south-east.

‘There’s an increased risk of icy patches due to recent wet weather, even on roads treated with salt, as water run-off or seepage may wash off salt treatments,’ the Met Office said.
‘The public should be aware of the risk of ice on roads and pavements.’

Cairngorm Mountain, Britain’s largest ski resort, took advantage of snowfall by opening ten days earlier than last year after 30cm (1ft) fell on slopes in the Scottish Highlands.

With Britain already facing a £1billion insurance bill following ten days of floods, the Environment Agency warned of more wet weather on Sunday: ‘An increase in rainfall would increase the flood risk. People should be aware.’

Source: metro.co.uk
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Government 'U-turn' as flood budget rises £120m

LIAM O'BRIEN
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2012

The Government was accused of making yet another U-turn by announcing a £120m boost to flood defences after cutting the annual budget by £95m.

Under Labour, expenditure on flood defence reached £354m annually.

But this was cut to £259m by the Coalition.

Of the extra £120m fund announced yesterday, £35m will be available in 2013-2014, meaning there will still be a £60m shortfall on previous investment levels.

The remaining £85m has been allocated to the following year.

Mary Creagh, the shadow environment secretary, said: "This year's floods have shown how short-sighted the Government was to cut investment in flood defences by £95m a year, leaving homes and businesses unprotected. Flooding is the biggest threat the UK faces from climate change, yet even after today's mini U-turn the Government will still be spending less on flood defences next year than in 2008."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment said: the new £120m fund meant more money than ever would be spent on flood defences.

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