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58 minutes ago
23 July 2007
Flood crisis in England
Flood crisis grows as rivers rise
The flooding crisis in central and western England continues as Britain's two biggest rivers, the Severn and the Thames, threaten to overflow.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is visiting Gloucestershire, the worst-affected county, where thousands of people have been left without water supply.
About 40,000 homes have also lost power after an electricity substation in Gloucester was closed after flooding.
Mr Brown said the government would be setting up a review of the crisis.
The prime minister flew by helicopter over Gloucestershire before heading to the police headquarters where the emergency response is being co-ordinated in the county.
He said the government would set up a review focusing on drainage and how Britain could protect itself against further flooding.
Extra funding would also be given to local authorities to help pay for essential emergency work in the aftermath of the crisis, he said.
YOUR PICTURES
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has warned water levels are expected to exceed those of the devastating floods of 1947.
It said water levels on the River Severn and Thames could reach a "critical" level in some areas.
Severe flood warnings are in place for the Midlands, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire.
A spokesman for the agency said the River Severn and the Thames would continue to swell until Tuesday and that levels on both rivers could increase beyond those of 60 years ago.
In March 1947, millions of pounds of damage was caused in the south of England, the Midlands, East Anglia and North Yorkshire when many of the country's rivers burst their banks.
Other main developments include:
Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young told the BBC that about £1bn a year was needed to improve flood defences.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn defended the government's flood response, saying there are lessons to be learned but denying flood defences had not been maintained properly.
Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach £2bn.
Sir John Harman, the chairman of the Environment Agency, warned summer floods could become more frequent in the future.
Severn Trent Water said 150,000 homes in Gloucestershire were without water after a treatment works was flooded.
People were being urged not to panic buy and to do all they could to conserve water.
No electricity
Peter Bungard from Gloucestershire County Council told BBC Five Live about 300,000 people had been affected.
Bottled water was being provided and a number of water bowsers being deployed to the area, he said.
Elsewhere in Gloucestershire, 43,000 homes were left without power after a major electricity substation was turned off because of the rising water.
UK FLOODED
A spokesman for the Central Networks Castlemeads substation said areas of Gloucester, parts of Cheltenham and some homes across the county border in Herefordshire had been affected.
Around 3,000 households later had power restored after their supply was switched to an alternative source.
At a second substation at Walham, Gloucester, the RAF and firefighters have been battling through the night to stop the floods entering the plant.
Assistant chief fire officer Chris Griffin said he believed the situation was now under control.
The county council has appealed to builders merchants to supply "dumpy bags" - giant sandbags - to help the operation.
Electricity supplier Central Networks has advised customers to ring 0800 328 1111 to report loss of supply.
BBC Radio Gloucestershire visited residents in Tewkesbury, one of the worst affected areas of Gloucestershire, and described a jovial mood among those cut off by flood waters.
One resident from a block of flats whose car park was covered in water said people were "laughing" and taking events in their stride.
Over the border, parts of Worcestershire were under 6ft of water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn.
Warwickshire and Berkshire have also been badly affected and severe warnings remain in place for Oxfordshire.
HAVE YOUR SAY
We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems
Ted Smith, Worcester
Residents at risk of flooding in Oxford have been told to leave their homes as water levels are expected to rise.
Some homes in Oxford, Abingdon, Kidlington and Bladon have already been flooded and conditions are expected to deteriorate.
John Kelly, Oxford's Emergency Planning Officer, said 1,500 evacuees were expected at Oxford United's football stadium.
Bill Oddy, from West Oxford District Council, said the area could experience further flooding problems in the next 48 hours.
'Critical' situation
Meanwhile, the government is expected to announce on Monday that it is rejecting calls to stop building houses on flood plains, despite the recent extensive flooding.
A draft of the Housing Green Paper, which was obtained by the BBC, says it is "not realistic" to rule out new developments in areas at risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency has issued nine severe flood warnings.
There are five in the Midlands for the River Avon and River Severn between Evesham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester.
Three severe flood warnings are in place for Oxfordshire, from Eynsham to Abingdon, and one has been issued for River Great Ouse from Turvey to Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire.
Joe Giacomelli, a spokesman for the Environment Agency, said the situation was "looking critical".
BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said the heaviest rain was due to fall in southern England in an area between the Isle of Wight and Suffolk, where an inch of rain could fall on Monday.
He also said Gloucestershire and Worcestershire could see 10 or 15 millimetres of rainfall.
Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188
Have you been affected by the lack of clean water supplies in your area? The BBC would like to hear about your experiences. Please use the form below to send us your details or you can text us on 61124.
Name
Your E-mail address
Town & Country
Phone number (optional):
Comments
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/6911226.stm
Published: 2007/07/23 10:20:23 GMT
© BBC MMVII
The flooding crisis in central and western England continues as Britain's two biggest rivers, the Severn and the Thames, threaten to overflow.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is visiting Gloucestershire, the worst-affected county, where thousands of people have been left without water supply.
About 40,000 homes have also lost power after an electricity substation in Gloucester was closed after flooding.
Mr Brown said the government would be setting up a review of the crisis.
The prime minister flew by helicopter over Gloucestershire before heading to the police headquarters where the emergency response is being co-ordinated in the county.
He said the government would set up a review focusing on drainage and how Britain could protect itself against further flooding.
Extra funding would also be given to local authorities to help pay for essential emergency work in the aftermath of the crisis, he said.
YOUR PICTURES
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has warned water levels are expected to exceed those of the devastating floods of 1947.
It said water levels on the River Severn and Thames could reach a "critical" level in some areas.
Severe flood warnings are in place for the Midlands, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire.
A spokesman for the agency said the River Severn and the Thames would continue to swell until Tuesday and that levels on both rivers could increase beyond those of 60 years ago.
In March 1947, millions of pounds of damage was caused in the south of England, the Midlands, East Anglia and North Yorkshire when many of the country's rivers burst their banks.
Other main developments include:
Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young told the BBC that about £1bn a year was needed to improve flood defences.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn defended the government's flood response, saying there are lessons to be learned but denying flood defences had not been maintained properly.
Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach £2bn.
Sir John Harman, the chairman of the Environment Agency, warned summer floods could become more frequent in the future.
Severn Trent Water said 150,000 homes in Gloucestershire were without water after a treatment works was flooded.
People were being urged not to panic buy and to do all they could to conserve water.
No electricity
Peter Bungard from Gloucestershire County Council told BBC Five Live about 300,000 people had been affected.
Bottled water was being provided and a number of water bowsers being deployed to the area, he said.
Elsewhere in Gloucestershire, 43,000 homes were left without power after a major electricity substation was turned off because of the rising water.
UK FLOODED
A spokesman for the Central Networks Castlemeads substation said areas of Gloucester, parts of Cheltenham and some homes across the county border in Herefordshire had been affected.
Around 3,000 households later had power restored after their supply was switched to an alternative source.
At a second substation at Walham, Gloucester, the RAF and firefighters have been battling through the night to stop the floods entering the plant.
Assistant chief fire officer Chris Griffin said he believed the situation was now under control.
The county council has appealed to builders merchants to supply "dumpy bags" - giant sandbags - to help the operation.
Electricity supplier Central Networks has advised customers to ring 0800 328 1111 to report loss of supply.
BBC Radio Gloucestershire visited residents in Tewkesbury, one of the worst affected areas of Gloucestershire, and described a jovial mood among those cut off by flood waters.
One resident from a block of flats whose car park was covered in water said people were "laughing" and taking events in their stride.
Over the border, parts of Worcestershire were under 6ft of water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn.
Warwickshire and Berkshire have also been badly affected and severe warnings remain in place for Oxfordshire.
HAVE YOUR SAY
We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems
Ted Smith, Worcester
Residents at risk of flooding in Oxford have been told to leave their homes as water levels are expected to rise.
Some homes in Oxford, Abingdon, Kidlington and Bladon have already been flooded and conditions are expected to deteriorate.
John Kelly, Oxford's Emergency Planning Officer, said 1,500 evacuees were expected at Oxford United's football stadium.
Bill Oddy, from West Oxford District Council, said the area could experience further flooding problems in the next 48 hours.
'Critical' situation
Meanwhile, the government is expected to announce on Monday that it is rejecting calls to stop building houses on flood plains, despite the recent extensive flooding.
A draft of the Housing Green Paper, which was obtained by the BBC, says it is "not realistic" to rule out new developments in areas at risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency has issued nine severe flood warnings.
There are five in the Midlands for the River Avon and River Severn between Evesham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester.
Three severe flood warnings are in place for Oxfordshire, from Eynsham to Abingdon, and one has been issued for River Great Ouse from Turvey to Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire.
Joe Giacomelli, a spokesman for the Environment Agency, said the situation was "looking critical".
BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said the heaviest rain was due to fall in southern England in an area between the Isle of Wight and Suffolk, where an inch of rain could fall on Monday.
He also said Gloucestershire and Worcestershire could see 10 or 15 millimetres of rainfall.
Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188
Have you been affected by the lack of clean water supplies in your area? The BBC would like to hear about your experiences. Please use the form below to send us your details or you can text us on 61124.
Name
Your E-mail address
Town & Country
Phone number (optional):
Comments
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/6911226.stm
Published: 2007/07/23 10:20:23 GMT
© BBC MMVII
Even more flooding SW England
More UK flooding expected
Posted Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:49pm AEST
Updated Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:01pm AEST
Slideshow: Photo 1 of 2
A girl cycles through floodwaters in Stratford Upon-Avon, central England. (Reuters: Darren Staples)
Video: Floods take England by surprise (ABC News) Related Story: RAF scrambles to help British flood victims Related Story: England floods strand thousands Authorities are warning of more flooding to come in Britain, after hundreds were rescued from floodwaters in wide areas of England and Wales.
The Royal Air Force has rescued hundreds of stranded people from rooftops in what it says is the largest peacetime evacuation it has ever had to deal with.
Rivers have burst their banks, leaving roads and railway lines under water.
The Environment Agency says water is still coming down the river systems and flooding defences, while drainage systems in urban areas are unable to cope with the volume of water.
Many motorists spent Saturday night in their cars, and dozens of trains and flights were cancelled.
The Environment Agency says Oxford, Berkshire and parts of London are at serious risk of flooding.
There are eight severe flood warnings in place, with seven for the Midlands and one for part of the River Thames in Oxfordshire.
Damage caused by the floods is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has praised the emergency services and promised money and help for residents.
"We've got to make sure that we can compensate local authorities who are under extreme pressure in this," he said.
"We will do so at a level of 100 per cent, whereas it used to be 85 per cent, and then we've got to learn the lessons for the future."
The leader of the opposition Conservatives, David Cameron, says the Government needs to consider carefully how it has responded to the latest floods.
"I was in Lincoln yesterday where 50 homes are flooded out and because it's only 50, that city council isn't getting money from the Government," he said.
"That seems not to be right, so I think there are things that need to be done.
"We push the Government to have a proper review of these things and they are holding that review - they need to get on with it, do it quickly."
In the town of Tewkesbury, in south-west England, residents are finding it hard to grasp the scale of the rainfall.
"The rivers often get high but obviously not quite this high and not in July," one said.
Another said: "It's unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable - I've never seen anything like this, especially in the middle of summer,"
- BBC
Posted Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:49pm AEST
Updated Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:01pm AEST
Slideshow: Photo 1 of 2
A girl cycles through floodwaters in Stratford Upon-Avon, central England. (Reuters: Darren Staples)
Video: Floods take England by surprise (ABC News) Related Story: RAF scrambles to help British flood victims Related Story: England floods strand thousands Authorities are warning of more flooding to come in Britain, after hundreds were rescued from floodwaters in wide areas of England and Wales.
The Royal Air Force has rescued hundreds of stranded people from rooftops in what it says is the largest peacetime evacuation it has ever had to deal with.
Rivers have burst their banks, leaving roads and railway lines under water.
The Environment Agency says water is still coming down the river systems and flooding defences, while drainage systems in urban areas are unable to cope with the volume of water.
Many motorists spent Saturday night in their cars, and dozens of trains and flights were cancelled.
The Environment Agency says Oxford, Berkshire and parts of London are at serious risk of flooding.
There are eight severe flood warnings in place, with seven for the Midlands and one for part of the River Thames in Oxfordshire.
Damage caused by the floods is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has praised the emergency services and promised money and help for residents.
"We've got to make sure that we can compensate local authorities who are under extreme pressure in this," he said.
"We will do so at a level of 100 per cent, whereas it used to be 85 per cent, and then we've got to learn the lessons for the future."
The leader of the opposition Conservatives, David Cameron, says the Government needs to consider carefully how it has responded to the latest floods.
"I was in Lincoln yesterday where 50 homes are flooded out and because it's only 50, that city council isn't getting money from the Government," he said.
"That seems not to be right, so I think there are things that need to be done.
"We push the Government to have a proper review of these things and they are holding that review - they need to get on with it, do it quickly."
In the town of Tewkesbury, in south-west England, residents are finding it hard to grasp the scale of the rainfall.
"The rivers often get high but obviously not quite this high and not in July," one said.
Another said: "It's unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable - I've never seen anything like this, especially in the middle of summer,"
- BBC
Not just in Doncaster.......
Severe flooding in China kills 128; 24 missing
Updated 35d ago | Comments 12 | Recommend 7 E-mail | Save | Print |
BEIJING (AP) — Severe flooding in China has left at least 128 people dead and 24 missing, with direct economic losses passing the US$1 billion (euro750 million) mark, state media reported Sunday.
Xinhua News Agency said the hardest-hit areas have been in southern China, including Guangdong province, the export powerhouse next to Hong Kong.
Most of the economic losses of $1.17 billion were in agriculture, Xinhua said.
China is frequently hit by natural disasters. The agency said that while there is flooding in the south, the northern part of the country is experiencing a drought.
It said the drought has left 11 million people short of drinking water.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Xinhua News Agency | Guangdong
Cheng Dianlong, the deputy head of the Office of the State Flood control and Drought Relief Headquarters, was quoted as saying the drought in northern China would continue or worsen due to high temperatures and a lack of rain.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Updated 35d ago | Comments 12 | Recommend 7 E-mail | Save | Print |
BEIJING (AP) — Severe flooding in China has left at least 128 people dead and 24 missing, with direct economic losses passing the US$1 billion (euro750 million) mark, state media reported Sunday.
Xinhua News Agency said the hardest-hit areas have been in southern China, including Guangdong province, the export powerhouse next to Hong Kong.
Most of the economic losses of $1.17 billion were in agriculture, Xinhua said.
China is frequently hit by natural disasters. The agency said that while there is flooding in the south, the northern part of the country is experiencing a drought.
It said the drought has left 11 million people short of drinking water.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Xinhua News Agency | Guangdong
Cheng Dianlong, the deputy head of the Office of the State Flood control and Drought Relief Headquarters, was quoted as saying the drought in northern China would continue or worsen due to high temperatures and a lack of rain.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
19 July 2007
Druggies at the Home Office
Two ministers in cannabis admission
Two Home Office ministers have admitted smoking cannabis when at university.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's confession that she had taken the drug was followed by a similar declaration by Home Office Minister Tony McNulty.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a matter for individual ministers "to decide how to answer these questions".
Ms Smith was asked on GMTV whether she had taken the drug as she was talking about the Prime Minister's announcement on Wednesday that there would be a review of its classification. She immediately responded: "I have. I did when I was at university. I haven't done for at least 25 years."
Then later, Mr McNulty told BBC News 24: "At university I encountered it, I smoked it once or twice, and I don't think many people who were at university at the time didn't at least encounter it."
Ms Smith told GMTV: "I think it was wrong that I smoked it when I did. I have not done for 25 years. I share other people's concerns about the effect that cannabis has on young people and mental health problems.
"So, actually I think in some ways I have learnt my lesson and I have a responsibility as Home Secretary now to make sure we put in place the laws and the support and information to make sure we carry on bringing cannabis use down, which we are doing."
Asked how she felt about people who thought her admission might make her unfit to be Home Secretary, she said: "On the whole I think people think human beings should do jobs like this. I am not proud about it, I did the wrong thing."
Appearing later on Sky News, she faced more questions and insisted she had only ever taken cannabis, saying: "I have never taken any other drugs." People would expect her to be honest and do what she was elected to do and, in the end, would judge her on that basis, she said.
Mr Brown's spokesman, asked about Ms Smith's admission, said: "This is a matter for ministers. There is no No 10 edict on this one way or another. The Prime Minister thinks this is a matter for individual ministers to decide how to answer these questions. He has no issue with how she dealt with this question." Mr Brown has consistently said he has never taken illegal drugs.
Two Home Office ministers have admitted smoking cannabis when at university.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's confession that she had taken the drug was followed by a similar declaration by Home Office Minister Tony McNulty.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a matter for individual ministers "to decide how to answer these questions".
Ms Smith was asked on GMTV whether she had taken the drug as she was talking about the Prime Minister's announcement on Wednesday that there would be a review of its classification. She immediately responded: "I have. I did when I was at university. I haven't done for at least 25 years."
Then later, Mr McNulty told BBC News 24: "At university I encountered it, I smoked it once or twice, and I don't think many people who were at university at the time didn't at least encounter it."
Ms Smith told GMTV: "I think it was wrong that I smoked it when I did. I have not done for 25 years. I share other people's concerns about the effect that cannabis has on young people and mental health problems.
"So, actually I think in some ways I have learnt my lesson and I have a responsibility as Home Secretary now to make sure we put in place the laws and the support and information to make sure we carry on bringing cannabis use down, which we are doing."
Asked how she felt about people who thought her admission might make her unfit to be Home Secretary, she said: "On the whole I think people think human beings should do jobs like this. I am not proud about it, I did the wrong thing."
Appearing later on Sky News, she faced more questions and insisted she had only ever taken cannabis, saying: "I have never taken any other drugs." People would expect her to be honest and do what she was elected to do and, in the end, would judge her on that basis, she said.
Mr Brown's spokesman, asked about Ms Smith's admission, said: "This is a matter for ministers. There is no No 10 edict on this one way or another. The Prime Minister thinks this is a matter for individual ministers to decide how to answer these questions. He has no issue with how she dealt with this question." Mr Brown has consistently said he has never taken illegal drugs.
03 July 2007
Darker clouds gather!
Today we have dark clouds, heavy rain and temperatures of between 10/12 degrees. "Today" has lasted from May through June and is now set for July.
So what's happening? A blip in the weather? A poor summer? A one-off?
I think not. The trend of unusual and unseasonal weather has been with us for some years & the scientists have been examining and appraising the situation for many years now.
See the problem for me is not that something is happening and accelerating ~ that's obvious. I see it with my own eyes.
No! The problem for me is that the experts themselves disagree both on the causes of what we are witnessing and the potential solutions.
* There are those who blame mankind. They argue ~ We have developed and built our societies on the fossil fuels & simultaneously polluted our atmospheres with so much carbon as to alter the normal balances of nature, weather etc. The only solution ~ and it may be too late ~ is to reduce carbon emissions.
* There are those who argue that what we are going through is a natural adjustment ~ part of the cyclic nature of the earth. They also indicate that man's contribution is negligible and the major cause in the shift is the sun. There is no solution. Things will get worse.
So here I am in the Limousin watching the rain ~ and watching the first signs of confusion & doubt in our usually confident approach to life.
There's one thing that's certain ~ there's much more of this to come and the process will accelerate.
The recent floods in UK give us an insight into how quickly someone's life can be turned upside down.
I guess we need to worry more about Global warming than any other current problems.
So what's happening? A blip in the weather? A poor summer? A one-off?
I think not. The trend of unusual and unseasonal weather has been with us for some years & the scientists have been examining and appraising the situation for many years now.
See the problem for me is not that something is happening and accelerating ~ that's obvious. I see it with my own eyes.
No! The problem for me is that the experts themselves disagree both on the causes of what we are witnessing and the potential solutions.
* There are those who blame mankind. They argue ~ We have developed and built our societies on the fossil fuels & simultaneously polluted our atmospheres with so much carbon as to alter the normal balances of nature, weather etc. The only solution ~ and it may be too late ~ is to reduce carbon emissions.
* There are those who argue that what we are going through is a natural adjustment ~ part of the cyclic nature of the earth. They also indicate that man's contribution is negligible and the major cause in the shift is the sun. There is no solution. Things will get worse.
So here I am in the Limousin watching the rain ~ and watching the first signs of confusion & doubt in our usually confident approach to life.
There's one thing that's certain ~ there's much more of this to come and the process will accelerate.
The recent floods in UK give us an insight into how quickly someone's life can be turned upside down.
I guess we need to worry more about Global warming than any other current problems.
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