British coastal towns brace for floods
The east coast of England is bracing itself for potentially life-threatening flooding this morning although the Environment Agency said water levels are not as high as originally feared.
Hundreds of people in the highest risk areas have been evacuated from their homes although some are opting to stay put, moving upstairs with all their valuables.
The Environment Agency (EA) has warned of “extreme danger to life and property” in coastal areas of Norfolk and Suffolk and parts of Kent and Essex, where the water is due to peak within the next hour.
Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk, is expected to be one of the worst hit with high water expected between 7am and 8am.
An EA spokesman said: “The levels are lower than we originally predicted but only by about 30cm or so. There’s still a risk of flooding around the coast.
“The good news is so far we haven’t had any breaches of the flood defences although some coastal roads are flooded, but that can be down to wave action combined with gales.”
He said the level of the surge was now expected to be around 2.7m, slightly higher than the 2.65m seen in 1993 which was the last time major flooding was seen along the coast.
Last night, the conditions were being compared to those leading up to the floods of 1953 – when hundreds died and large parts of East Anglia were left under water.
The spokesman added: “Thankfully the levels will be lower than 1953.
“In 1953, there was a 3.2-metre surge and also high tides and a storm.”
He said temporary flood barriers had been fitted around an electricity substation in Great Yarmouth during the night to protect power supplies.
A surge was expected to be seen at Immingham in Humberside where water levels peaked at around 4.30am today. Nearby Cleethorpes coastguard reported no problems.
“At low water it looked like there was a significant surge but when the tide peaked it was nothing out of the ordinary,” said a spokesman.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired an emergency Cobra committee meeting last night and the Environment Agency (EA) issued eight severe flood warnings as the surge – a combination of gale force winds and a high tide – approached from the North Sea.
Police officers and council representatives have been knocking on doors in high risk areas of Norfolk through the night, warning people to leave.
By 2.30am they had visited around half the 7,500 properties at risk, including all those in the highest risk zone.
Around 500 people had headed to rest centres set up at five schools, a police spokeswoman said.
“Some people are choosing to stay at home but are taking our advice and staying upstairs,” she added.
“A further proportion of householders have left their homes in the high risk area to stay with friends and relatives outside of the borough.”
Police said the rest centres have room for 3,500 people and they are confident there is adequate provision.
Around 200 people have been evacuated from care homes and from Northgate Hospital, ten schools will be closed today because of the risk of flooding and Great Yarmouth Register Office has cancelled all today’s appointments.
The EA said areas at greatest risk were the Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft and Felixstowe.
Residents in low-lying areas of the Suffolk coast have also been advised to leave their homes and 33 schools are closed.
The Dartford Creek and Thames barriers were closed last night to defend against the surge, the EA.
In a brief statement to the Commons yesterday, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn warned MPs: “A tidal surge of up to three metres is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with peak high tides.
“There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft, and areas south of this as far as the coast of Kent.”
Barbara Young, chief executive of the EA, said: “Environment Agency officers are out on the ground monitoring the situation, preparing for any flooding and advising and warning the people affected.
“We are urging people to be vigilant, listen to local news reports and check our website or call Floodline 0845 988 1188 for the latest flood situation.”
The Highways Agency closed the A47 between Acle and Great Yarmouth and the A12 between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft at 3am at the request of police.
A spokesman said the closure was a precautionary measure and was to be reviewed at around 6am.
The North Sea conditions were also causing flood warnings to be raised in the Netherlands overnight.
Rotterdam harbour was closed off by a storm surge barrier.
