Britain braces for a week of rain

Sharon · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:32 am Post subject: Britain braces for a week of rain

The damage done by the floods of last summer was still being repaired. And then they came again.

Torrential rain and strong winds lashed the country with parts of western England among the affected areas.

Just months ago the worst flooding since 1947 was recorded. In July, more than 4,000 homes and 500 businesses across Gloucestershire fell victim.

Yesterday homes were deluged once more as rivers burst their banks, drivers abandoned their cars in flash floods and roads were closed.

Last night there were 78 flood warnings and 191 flood watches in place across the country.

They included areas of Wales, the Ouse in East Anglia, the Wye, Severn and Derwent in the Midlands, and the Avon in the South-West.

The country has already had two-thirds of the rainfall expected for January, according to the Met Office.

Those waiting at home with sandbags at the ready, have been told that, as river levels rise, the next 48 hours will be critical.

In Tewkesbury, the Abbey was surrounded by water, just as it was six months ago. A few miles north Worcestershire Cricket Ground was also swamped for a second time.

Last night the Environment Agency said: "Areas are already very saturated and rivers are responding very rapidly.

"But the good news is that gales are pushing the rainfall through very quickly.

"The problems will continue throughout the week. But the next few days will be crucial."

However, he added: "We should make it clear that it is currently nowhere near the scale of last summer, when there were more than 100 flood warnings."

Force Nine gales in the Channel closed the port of Dover for several hours in the afternoon. It later reopened, but many services to France were delayed.

The strong winds also meant delays on flights between Jersey, and Guernsey.

In Ramsgate, a fireman was taken to hospital when part of a roof was blown off at a block of flats.

A woman and her three children had to be rescued by firemen, in Lodsworth, West Sussex, when their car became stuck in floodwater.

The weather also caused delays on the roads and railways.

Flood warnings on the Severn came too late for some.

Only last week Terri and Tom Murphy began replastering their home in Wiltshire, following flooding in the summer.

Yesterday, after completing the base layer, workmen had to down tools as the house in the village of Crudwell, was flooded as a nearby stream overflowed.

"This is as bad as last time," said Mrs Murphy, a 58-year-old horticulturist, whose husband, 60, is a plumber.

"In July last year the whole ground floor flooded and we lost everything downstairs."

Mark and Michelle Horner, both 40, have been stranded on the second floor of their three-bedroom farmhouse, in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, since it was deluged in 3ft of water in July.

But just days before a £250,000 re-fit was due to be completed, nearly 2ft of water surged through their home as the Frome burst its banks 30ft away.

The house, flooded twice in July, was partially flooded in heavy rains at the weekend, but it was thought the repairs could still continue.

Mr Horner, who runs a waste management business with his wife, said: "This is the fourth time, and the place is now wrecked again."

Met Office spokesman John Hammond said there was a "period of respite" to come today, but warned there would be more bad weather to come.

"There is a hint that things will become more settled and recover next week but we've got some pretty wet and windy weather to get through before then."

In July, about 340,000 householders around Tewkesbury had their water supplies cut off for more than a fortnight, after the Severn Trent Mythe Waterworks were inundated and freshwater supplies contaminated.
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sarah · Moderator Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 631

just when you think its all over!!! hope we dont get it as bad as what we did in june x
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Sharon · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

I think you got hit the worst back then, I hope it doesn't go like that again.
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sarah · Moderator Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 631

we did, it was awful, i remeber the first day it happened i was stuck at the hospital as i had an appointment and i couldnt even use my mobile as the signals were down

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