Flooding hits Britain as stormy weather brings chaos and misery
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Oct 25, 2011, 5:22:38 AM10/25/11
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Times and Climate Change
Flooding hits Britain as stormy weather brings chaos and misery
Parts of Britain are braced for further flooding on Tuesday, after 24 hours of torrential rain and storms ended the recent fine weather and brought misery for thousands of families
High wind lashes waves over the seafront at Torquay as the weather takes a turn for the worse, October 24 2011
By Andrew Hough
7:30AM BST 25 Oct 2011
Food warnings were in place for North and East Yorkshire while alerts were issued for rivers and coastal areas in Cornwall, Devon and parts of Wales amid fears of more heavy downpours.
Ireland was also hit by severe weather.
After a sunny weekend and temperatures of up to to 68F (20c) last week, forecasters warned more than four inches, bringing travel chaos and misery for families enjoying the half-term break.
Dozens of families and businesses in the country's south-west are already counting the cost of rising waters as up to a month's worth of rainfall fell in just a few hours.
Residents spent much of Monday sandbagging vulnerable properties, roads were closed and motorists were warned to be careful in case of flash-flooding while public transport was also severely effected.
The bad weather also hit across the Irish Channel, with huge swathes of the east of Ireland was also hit by almost a month's rain in 24 hours.
Flooded rivers and canals forced rail services to be suspended, closed roads and left hundreds of shops and homes under water. A police officer is missing, feared dead, after being swept away by floods in the Wicklow Mountains.
The officer, in his 20s and stationed at Stepaside, south Dublin, was helping people on the upper stretches of the River Liffey. The garda were attempting to keep people safe from dangerous floods at Ballysmuttan bridge.
Dublin City Council activated its major emergency plan and sent teams out to evacuate badly hit houses and help clear the flood waters. Ferries in and out of Dublin were cancelled and flights were diverted from landing at the city's airport.
A major shopping centre at Dundrum, in the city's south, was evacuated after the first floor of the mall was flooded by four inches of water.
In Cornwall, the council's highways and environment services department received more than 300 calls about incidents caused by the severe weather including fallen trees, blocked drains and surface water flooding.
Many homes and businesses are still recovering from last year's floods which hit many parts of Cornwall, causing millions of pounds worth of damage. Torbay seafront was closed to traffic amid fears over flooding caused by the high tide.
The Environment Agency issued flood warnings for Scarborough, North Yorkshire and Bridlington, East Yorkshire on Tuesday.
Officials meanwhile issued 23 flood alerts for rivers and coastal areas in Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea. More than two inches of rain fell in some areas in the space of a few hours.
The Agency closed tidal gates at Truro, Flushing, Plymouth Sutton Harbour, Polperro and partially closed at Copperhouse to reduce the flood risk.
"Given the potential for very heavy localised downpours, small, fast responding rivers and streams are particularly prone to flooding, especially in Cornwall and west Devon," an agency spokesman said.
"There have been some reports of flooding to property and continued disruption to travel is possible.
"Strong winds and high tides in South Devon are also increasing the risk of localised flooding in coastal areas. Some precautionary closures of roads have been organised by local authorities."
He added: "Last November hundreds of properties in Cornwall were flooded after heavy rainfall. Today's forecast means that there is also a strong likelihood of property flooding.
"The Environment Agency is therefore urging people to protect themselves and their properties.
"During the half-term holidays many visitors as well as local communities will need to remain vigilant over the next 12 hours."
Forecasters said two inches of rain fell in Cardinham, near Bodmin in Cornwall, between 7am and 7pm on Monday while similar levels were recorded in Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.
There were also winds of up to 60mph across Shetland and Orkney, where further strong gales are expected on Tuesday.
On Monday firemen pumped water out of homes and shops in Cornwall amid warnings up to four inches was expected. This was just below the average for all of October and so far the heaviest of the year.
A Cornwall Council spokesman said: "Incidents have been reported from across Cornwall, including Camborne and Redruth, Helston, Hayle, Truro, Penryn, Wadebridge, Par and Mevagissey, Trewoon, Newquay and Launceston.
"Over the past hour the severe weather has affected the Mid Cornwall area, with reports of surface water flooding in the Mevagissey and St Austell areas and parts of Roche."
Martin Cooper from Cornish flood recovery company Richfords Fire and Flood said "At the moment it's a case of being alert, being prepared and making those first few preparations.
"Remember if flooding does occur, then water, even if it looks quite shallow, can be dangerous and cause potential harm."
Flooding hits Britain as stormy weather brings chaos and misery
Parts of Britain are braced for further flooding on Tuesday, after 24 hours of torrential rain and storms ended the recent fine weather and brought misery for thousands of families
High wind lashes waves over the seafront at Torquay as the weather takes a turn for the worse, October 24 2011
By Andrew Hough
7:30AM BST 25 Oct 2011
Food warnings were in place for North and East Yorkshire while alerts were issued for rivers and coastal areas in Cornwall, Devon and parts of Wales amid fears of more heavy downpours.
Ireland was also hit by severe weather.
After a sunny weekend and temperatures of up to to 68F (20c) last week, forecasters warned more than four inches, bringing travel chaos and misery for families enjoying the half-term break.
Dozens of families and businesses in the country's south-west are already counting the cost of rising waters as up to a month's worth of rainfall fell in just a few hours.
Residents spent much of Monday sandbagging vulnerable properties, roads were closed and motorists were warned to be careful in case of flash-flooding while public transport was also severely effected.
The bad weather also hit across the Irish Channel, with huge swathes of the east of Ireland was also hit by almost a month's rain in 24 hours.
Flooded rivers and canals forced rail services to be suspended, closed roads and left hundreds of shops and homes under water. A police officer is missing, feared dead, after being swept away by floods in the Wicklow Mountains.
The officer, in his 20s and stationed at Stepaside, south Dublin, was helping people on the upper stretches of the River Liffey. The garda were attempting to keep people safe from dangerous floods at Ballysmuttan bridge.
Dublin City Council activated its major emergency plan and sent teams out to evacuate badly hit houses and help clear the flood waters. Ferries in and out of Dublin were cancelled and flights were diverted from landing at the city's airport.
A major shopping centre at Dundrum, in the city's south, was evacuated after the first floor of the mall was flooded by four inches of water.
In Cornwall, the council's highways and environment services department received more than 300 calls about incidents caused by the severe weather including fallen trees, blocked drains and surface water flooding.
Many homes and businesses are still recovering from last year's floods which hit many parts of Cornwall, causing millions of pounds worth of damage. Torbay seafront was closed to traffic amid fears over flooding caused by the high tide.
The Environment Agency issued flood warnings for Scarborough, North Yorkshire and Bridlington, East Yorkshire on Tuesday.
Officials meanwhile issued 23 flood alerts for rivers and coastal areas in Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea. More than two inches of rain fell in some areas in the space of a few hours.
The Agency closed tidal gates at Truro, Flushing, Plymouth Sutton Harbour, Polperro and partially closed at Copperhouse to reduce the flood risk.
"Given the potential for very heavy localised downpours, small, fast responding rivers and streams are particularly prone to flooding, especially in Cornwall and west Devon," an agency spokesman said.
"There have been some reports of flooding to property and continued disruption to travel is possible.
"Strong winds and high tides in South Devon are also increasing the risk of localised flooding in coastal areas. Some precautionary closures of roads have been organised by local authorities."
He added: "Last November hundreds of properties in Cornwall were flooded after heavy rainfall. Today's forecast means that there is also a strong likelihood of property flooding.
"The Environment Agency is therefore urging people to protect themselves and their properties.
"During the half-term holidays many visitors as well as local communities will need to remain vigilant over the next 12 hours."
Forecasters said two inches of rain fell in Cardinham, near Bodmin in Cornwall, between 7am and 7pm on Monday while similar levels were recorded in Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.
There were also winds of up to 60mph across Shetland and Orkney, where further strong gales are expected on Tuesday.
On Monday firemen pumped water out of homes and shops in Cornwall amid warnings up to four inches was expected. This was just below the average for all of October and so far the heaviest of the year.
A Cornwall Council spokesman said: "Incidents have been reported from across Cornwall, including Camborne and Redruth, Helston, Hayle, Truro, Penryn, Wadebridge, Par and Mevagissey, Trewoon, Newquay and Launceston.
"Over the past hour the severe weather has affected the Mid Cornwall area, with reports of surface water flooding in the Mevagissey and St Austell areas and parts of Roche."
Martin Cooper from Cornish flood recovery company Richfords Fire and Flood said "At the moment it's a case of being alert, being prepared and making those first few preparations.
"Remember if flooding does occur, then water, even if it looks quite shallow, can be dangerous and cause potential harm."
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