VIDEO: Emergency services in England struggle in aftermath of Storm Desmond

Emergency services in the north of England are becoming increasingly stretched as the army has been drafted in to help cope with floods in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.



Fears are growing over the safety of an elderly man who police believe fell into a swollen river in Cumbria, and the weather has already claimed the life of a 90-year-old man in London.

Strong winds and heavy rain tore through Britain and a major incident was declared in Cumbria, the worst affected county.

Concerns are growing over an incident at the River Kent in Kendal as police wait for an underwater search team to help them search for the elderly male believed to have fallen in the water.

Rescue and evacuation missions, which began on Saturday, continue in areas which have seen more than a month’s rainfall over the past 24 hours.

A 90-year-old man lost his life after he was believed to have been blown into the side of a moving bus by a gust of wind, near Finchley Central Tube station, north London, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Carlisle remains one of the most severely affected areas as water levels continued to rise past the expected peak time of 9.15am on Sunday.

Soldiers have been deployed to support local emergency services by helping to move people from their homes in streets where cars have been almost entirely submerged.

West Midlands Fire Service has also sent firefighters and specialist equipment to the county and its control room staff are helping to answer the high number of calls from their Birmingham office.

In Eamont Bridge in Cumbria, 150 people were rescued by the Coastguard from a flooded caravan park. The village of Braithwaite became completely cut off when its main bridge collapsed as the river burst its banks.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Rory Stewart, who is also the Tory MP for Penrith and the Border, said flooding in his constituency has been “the worst that anybody’s experienced” and acknowledged water had “overtopped” existing flood defences.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/video-emergency-services-in-england-struggle-in-aftermath-of-storm-desmond-370055.html


So we can afford billions on bombing Syria, but our emergency services are so cut they can't deal with an emergency, have to call in the army, and hundreds of recommended flood defences have not been put in place because of the cuts as well:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/10/englands-flood-defence-funding-faces-600m-shortfall-mps-warn

They should be given a portion of the Foreign Aid Cameron sends abroad.

There is actually an EU fund for flood defences.  Cameron said we didn't need it and wouldn't use it.   He's cares so much!

It took five men to move that woman in about three inches of water?

sassy wrote:There is actually an EU fund for flood defences.  Cameron said we didn't need it and wouldn't use it.   He's cares so much!

Pleasestop talking about Scamoron, it puts me in a bad mood and I get evil thoughts, I detest the pig. lol

nicko wrote:They should be given a portion of the Foreign Aid Cameron sends abroad.

You are wrong nicko, they should get ALL the money they need and other areas of our island should get the rest.

Sod giving forun aid.

It's not the depth, it's the force of the flow.  Did you not see the video last year of the man who was swept off his feet by flood water that was only a few inches deep, when he thought he could cross a flooded road safely?  And she looks an old lady who might be disabled.  With the pressure they are under they are really likely to use people they don't need to.

And really ironic that firefighters were out saving lives in areas they are also fighting to stop cuts:

sassy wrote:It's not the depth, it's the force of the flow.  Did you not see the video last year of the man who was swept off his feet by flood water that was only a few inches deep, when he thought he could cross a flooded road safely?  And she looks an old lady who might be disabled.  With the pressure they are under they are really likely to use people they don't need to.

The photo wasn't a very good example, that's all. I've also pics of young people being pulled along in about eight inches of water. They really need to save the rescue efforts for completely necessary situations. She doesn't look that old really, and she has a dog which presumably needs long walks.

Our drains around here are blocked or partially blocked, you can see vegetation growing from them.
Our rivers in certain areas need dredging, these are obvious jobs which will help.

Another reason for NOT paying aid to forun countries.

And all that can be fixed by the money from the EU that Cameron turned down.

BTW Stormee, you deliberate mis-spelling really doesn't fool anyone.

sassy wrote:And all that can be fixed by the money from the EU that Cameron turned down.

BTW Stormee, you deliberate mis-spelling really doesn't fool anyone.

I know you think you know Stormee, but you don't ...

Anyway, I do feel sorry for the people whose houses have been flooded. If they have time, hopefully they moved a lot of stuff upstairs. How awful to go home afterwards and see all that water damage.

If you're going to live in a town with hills, it's best to live uphill really.

sassy wrote:And all that can be fixed by the money from the EU that Cameron turned down.

BTW Stormee, you deliberate mis-spelling really doesn't fool anyone.

How doest thou know I am fooling anyone?
My Macbook was speshullee designed for aerosols. lol
I do like to bring a accessional smile to forumz, maybe yourself and otheuz could do the same.

It's terrible, it'll take months to get these people back into their homes

One good news story I've come across following the floods in Ireland, people really pulling together to help in such tragic times :

This smiling donkey was very happy to be rescued from a flood



It's not every day Animal Heaven Animal Rescue is asked to retrieve a drowning donkey from a flood.

However, poor Mike was rather stuck in the mud, and in deathly peril. The rescue centre posted on Facebook: "Code red. Today's emergency. Please help me. There is a donkey stranded in deep flooding in Kilorglin. I need a boat and men to help. I have ropes etc. Please get me help"

Residents of the area were quick to offer their help to rescue Mike. They managed to get hold of a small boat, and volunteers came down to help the stranded donkey.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12036896/this-smiling-donkey-was-very-happy-to-be-rescued-from-a-flood.html

Bless! I love a good animal rescue story if it works out OK.