Floods crisis intensifies as Met Office warns of yet more rain

Floods crisis intensifies as Met Office warns of yet more rain
Rail links to south-west remain severed while severe flood warnings issued along banks of Thames

The flooding crisis intensified Sunday as householders in some of the UK's most exclusive riverside neighbourhoods on the banks of the Thames were issued with severe flood warnings, the rail link to the south-west remained completely cut off and the Met Office warned yet more rain is on the way.

Police were investigating whether the death of a seven-year-old boy was connected to the floodwater that swamped his Surrey home and rescuers were searching for a canoeist who went missing on the flooded river Usk in Wales. An elderly woman was being treated for severe injuries in Birmingham after her car was hit by a tree.

The army and Royal Marines assisted emergency services and Environment Agency workers on the Somerset Levels, where the water continued to rise.

Military personnel also helped rebuild battered sea defences in Dorset and keep the floods away from an electricity substation in Berkshire. More than 1,000 further troops are on stand-by.

David Cameron chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee and was believed to be discussing the new threat to parts of the Thames Valley, protecting energy infrastructure, and access to and from Cornwall.
London flood warnings map

Further rain warnings have been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday. The Met Office's chief scientist, Dame Julia Slingo, said for the first time that climate change almost certainly lies behind this winter's torrential rains and violent storms.

Two of the 16 severe flood warnings – meaning lives are in danger – covered parts of the Levels; the rest related to towns and villages along a 15-mile stretch of the river Thames in Surrey and Berkshire west of central London.

Properties in the Surrey towns of Chertsey, Staines and Egham were threatened as were Berkshire villages including Wraysbury, Old Windsor and Datchet, with the EA warning that the water levels would continue to rise until at least Monday afternoon.

The warnings covered historic spots including Pharaoh's Island, which was gifted to Nelson following the Battle of the Nile and which he used as a fishing retreat and Magna Carta Island, one of the contenders as the spot where King John sealed the charter.

Further north there are also fears that Worcester city centre could be badly hit as the Severn continues to rise.

Police and firefighters wore masks when they visited the home of seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, who died after falling ill in his flood-hit home in Chertsey.

Officers refused to be drawn on whether carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator pumping out flood water from his home may be to blame. His parents, Kye Gbangbola and Nicole Lawler, were taken ill while two police officers and 13 neighbours were taken to hospital as a precaution but later discharged.

Chief Superintendent Dave Miller, of Surrey police, said that the cause of Zane's death was still unknown. He said: "We are continuing to work with partner agencies and officers are following various lines of inquiry."

There were astonishing scenes on the Somerset Levels, where water levels were rising 0.6cm (0.25in) an hour in some places, as a spontaneous, grassroots aid effort began.

Volunteer helpers, including Sikh aid workers from Berkshire and the West Midlands, Mormon Church elders, families and individuals descended on Burrowbridge to bring in emergency supplies and bolster defences.

Managed by the Flooding on the Levels action group (FLAG) volunteers, including children, heaved sandbags, built makeshift paths and packed boxes filled with donated supplies for stranded householders.

It was another tough day for Network Rail as flooding, landslips and fallen trees led to all train routes into the west country being blocked. Those problems followed the ongoing problem at Dawlish in Devon when last week's storms caused a stretch of rail next to the sea to buckle and break.

Services between London and Kent were also disrupted by a landslip.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/09/flooding-crisis-intensifies-met-office


We are going to carry on getting bad weather swings and a REAL plan has to be put in place, no more waffling from any side, they should all get together. It's not something that is going to go away.

Staines isn't that far from LHR. Really bad.

Well, some silly people down the bottom of the street by the river didn't move their cars and they are now under water. The meadows, that are huge, stretch for miles, are all under water and the weir is still pouring out.

Sounds scary sass. Please keep us updated.

Hi Lovey, we are fine, we are higher up and there is one row of houses between us and the water meadows, but their back gardens are in trouble. However, we are higher than them as well, if I look out of my bedroom window we look over the tops their roof, so unless there is a total disaster and it rises about 10ft we should be fine. I feel really sorry for them though, beautiful old houses, some of them 15th Century with wonderful views over the meadows in summer, really dodgy now though.

Sassy wrote:Well, some silly people down the bottom of the street by the river didn't move their cars and they are now under water.   The meadows, that are huge, stretch for miles, are all under water and the weir is still pouring out.

That's because they mostly have second homes, and can claim off the insurance.

Turn them into flood plains again imo.

So are we now saying it could be something to do with the weather?

Oh, and I thought it was all the Conservative Party's fault...

Catman wrote:Turn them into flood plains again imo.

That's what they have always been used for Phil, that's why normally we don't get floods, the meadows are designed to take them away, but even the meadows are full now.

Sassy wrote:

Catman wrote:Turn them into flood plains again imo.

That's what they have always been used for Phil, that's why normally we don't get floods, the meadows are designed to take them away, but even the meadows are full now.

Is it just rich Tories wanting to live somewhere nice?

....Then these rich Tories, expect the foreign aid budget to be directed towards them...charity begins at home and all that!

Fuck Off!...You did choose to live there, you have plenty of money to sort your own fucking problems out, and insurance, so FUCK OFF!

Farage!...That joke, of a far right wanker, was saying as much today!

They have plenty of money to sort their own problems out, rather than to leech off the public purse!

Catman wrote:....Then these rich Tories, expect the foreign aid budget to be directed towards them...charity begins at home and all that!

Fuck Off!...You did choose to live there, you have plenty of money to sort your own fucking problems out, and insurance, so FUCK OFF!

Mr Catman - why so much hatred?

You have no idea who is suffering there.

BigAndy9 wrote:

Catman wrote:....Then these rich Tories, expect the foreign aid budget to be directed towards them...charity begins at home and all that!

Fuck Off!...You did choose to live there, you have plenty of money to sort your own fucking problems out, and insurance, so FUCK OFF!

Mr Catman - why so much hatred?

You have no idea who is suffering there.

It isn't hatred, just passion, and a relevant bloody point!

Catman wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:

Mr Catman - why so much hatred?

You have no idea who is suffering there.

It isn't hatred, just passion, and a relevant bloody point!

Shame that poor young lad had to die eh? Or is it ok because his dad might vote Conservative?

BigAndy9 wrote:

Catman wrote:

It isn't hatred, just passion, and a relevant bloody point!

Shame that poor young lad had to die eh?  Or is it ok because his dad might vote Conservative?

They are naturally flood plains...Let them get back to being just that!

..Let nature decide!...Half of them don't believe in global warming!

Go and live somewhere up stream!

Catman wrote:

Sassy wrote:

That's what they have always been used for Phil, that's why normally we don't get floods, the meadows are designed to take them away, but even the meadows are full now.

Is it just rich Tories wanting to live somewhere nice?

Not at all, its actually a very busy road, with ordinary people, mostly terraced cottages, some as 500 years old, with the odd bigger one here and there. You honestly wouldn't realise that behind the houses opposite are the meadows. Mind you, the bloke next door is youngish, gay and a millionnaire, four high end cars each worth £300 - £400,000 but he's a bit on an exception. His house is pink and beamed with no straight walls its so old, mullioned windows, but he's a sweetie and when wind earlier in the year blew down the fence between us he came sorted it out, came in for coffee and was happy to let Benny run in his garden while he did it. Every so often he buys Benny a ball and chucks it over the fence for him.

lovedust wrote:
Sounds scary sass. Please keep us updated.

  

Why ???

  

Because she is a mate, ok.

BigAndy9 wrote:

Catman wrote:
It isn't hatred, just passion, and a relevant bloody point!

Shame that poor young lad had to die eh?  Or is it ok because his dad might vote Conservative?

    Nobody on here has suggested that any deaths are "OK", BigAndy !?!

That's just your typically nasty British "class attitudes" shining through. Again..

A better question for you conservatives = WHAT IS IT with so many of those moneyed people, who think that if they buy flood prone land or build on beaches, than somehow, by some miracle the 'Laws of Nature' will NO LONGER apply to them !      


Good points, Well made, Catman..

 

Catman wrote:Farage!...That joke, of a far right wanker, was saying as much today!

They have plenty of money to sort their own problems out, rather than to leech off the public purse!

Typical hatred of the townie to rural folk, phil, why are you such a hater?? many of these folk will be agricultural workers, most likely in "tied houses" and a few will be working folk like me?

You see rural folks dislike rich townies that buy up rural properties and push up the house prices. THEN they get involved in "rural matters" which are NOT their concern. IF you want my opinion....townies should stick to their dirty smelly overcrowded little patches and leave us "country folk alone". IF maintaining these areas HAD been left in the remit of those actually LIVING there then this kind of thing would likely not happen..

If you read what sassy had posted it would be obvious EVEN TO YOU, that the houses involved have been there for a long time, possibly several hundred years. as she describes a house with "mullioned windows". Instead of hating anything and everything that is "not of your level" try getting a life....

Beekeeper wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:

Shame that poor young lad had to die eh?  Or is it ok because his dad might vote Conservative?

    Nobody on here has suggested that any deaths are "OK", BigAndy !?!

That's just your typically nasty British "class attitudes" shining through. Again..

A better question for you conservatives = WHAT IS IT with so many of those moneyed people, who think that if they buy flood prone land or build on beaches, than somehow, by some miracle the 'Laws of Nature' will NO LONGER apply to them !      


Good points, Well made, Catman..

 

quote sassy

"Hi Lovey, we are fine, we are higher up and there is one row of houses between us and the water meadows, but their back gardens are in trouble. However, we are higher than them as well, if I look out of my bedroom window we look over the tops their roof, so unless there is a total disaster and it rises about 10ft we should be fine. I feel really sorry for them though, beautiful old houses, some of them 15th Century with wonderful views over the meadows in summer, really dodgy now though." Unquote.

What part of that dont you understand Mr Italics????

Catman wrote:Farage!...That joke, of a far right wanker, was saying as much today!

They have plenty of money to sort their own problems out, rather than to leech off the public purse!

Does this mean that when you get your inheritance , you will stop Leeching off the public purse ?

Puriel wrote:

Catman wrote:Farage!...That joke, of a far right wanker, was saying as much today!

They have plenty of money to sort their own problems out, rather than to leech off the public purse!

Does this mean that when you get your inheritance , you will stop Leeching off the public purse ?

Fuck off Durham.

Catman wrote:

Puriel wrote:



Does this mean that when you get your inheritance , you will stop Leeching off the public purse ?

Fuck off Durham.

a simple question warrants that reply ?

Catman wrote:

Sassy wrote:Well, some silly people down the bottom of the street by the river didn't move their cars and they are now under water.   The meadows, that are huge, stretch for miles, are all under water and the weir is still pouring out.

That's because they mostly have second homes, and can claim off the insurance.

How the hell would you know that??? Just because you have a second home doesn't mean most people do.

Catman wrote:..Let nature decide!...Half of them don't believe in global warming!

Go and live somewhere up stream!

What a hateful little cretin you are!

Tess. wrote:

Catman wrote:

That's because they mostly have second homes, and can claim off the insurance.

How the hell would you know that???  Just because you have a second home doesn't mean most people do.

do you have to divulge all your assets when you are claiming benefits ?

Tess. wrote:

Catman wrote:

That's because they mostly have second homes, and can claim off the insurance.

How the hell would you know that???  Just because you have a second home doesn't mean most people do.

From watching various news reports.

let's face it, if the govt. had used millions/billions to keep dredging rivers and nothing had happens they would have been slated for wasting money that could mend road or what ever, they have been caught with their pants down but what ever happens would be their fault any way.

Tess. wrote:

Catman wrote:..Let nature decide!...Half of them don't believe in global warming!

Go and live somewhere up stream!

What a hateful little cretin you are!

What a nasty little far right wacko you are!

I should imagine that the vast majority of those affected by the floods are contributors to the system , council tax payers and income tax payers and not the type who have leeched off the system for years.

Puriel wrote:

I should imagine that the vast majority of those affected by the floods are contributors to the system , council tax payers and income tax payers and not the type who have leeched off the system for years.

I seem to remember that Ben put you on a warning last night, you should try keeping to the OP and on topic wanker.

Catman wrote:

Puriel wrote:

I should imagine that the vast majority of those affected by the floods are contributors to the system , council tax payers and income tax payers and not the type who have leeched off the system for years.

I seem to remember that Ben put you on a warning last night, you should try keeping to the OP and on topic wanker.

I think you will find that you are the one who has brought up peoples entitlements to assistance based on their means.

is there really any need for your childish insults ?

Puriel wrote:

I should imagine that the vast majority of those affected by the floods are contributors to the system , council tax payers and income tax payers and not the type who have leeched off the system for years.

Good point, and to think that people are dying because of the insistence of liberals on spending our own money on foreigners!

Perverse!

  

PEOPLE eho decided to live in flood plains and waterways...

They "made their own beds.."

Now they can't sleep in them because they're underwater !     

Beekeeper wrote:  

PEOPLE eho decided to live in flood plains and waterways...

They "made their own beds.."

Now they can't sleep in them because they're underwater !     

that's really funny in a tragic kinda way..