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Severe weather puts hundreds of Cumbrian homes at risk of flooding Severe weather puts hundreds of Cumbrian homes at risk of flooding
(35 minutes later)
Police have warned motorists in Cumbria to drive “only if absolutely necessary” after torrential rain left roads flooded and put more than a thousand homes at risk. Police have warned motorists in Cumbria to drive “only if absolutely necessary” after torrential rain left roads flooded and put more than 1,000 homes at risk.
The Environment Agency has issued six severe flood warnings – its highest level of alert – and emergency reception centres were set up in Kendal and Egremont. But Dave Hughes, chairman of Kendal Mountain Rescue, said not everyone had been willing to leave their homes. The Environment Agency has issued six severe flood warnings – its highest level of alert – and emergency reception centres were set up in Kendal and Egremont. But Dave Hughes, the chairman of Kendal Mountain Rescue, said not everyone had been willing to leave their homes.
“Some people decided to stay at home. You can understand that people may be reluctant to leave their beds,” he told the BBC on Sunday. Approximately 1,000 properties are at risk in Kendal and 600 in Egremont. “Some people decided to stay at home. You can understand that people may be reluctant to leave their beds,” he told the BBC on Sunday. About 1,000 properties are at risk in Kendal and 600 in Egremont.
People have also been warned to take care on the roads. Cumbria police said a number of roads in the county have already been affected, including the A66 route, which links the M6 with communities on the west coast. People have also been warned to take care on the roads. Cumbria police said a number of roads in the county have been affected, including the A66, which links the M6 with the west coast.
A force spokesman said: “Agencies are urging motorists to drive only if absolutely necessary following a number of the county’s roads being affected by surface water following continuous rainfall.A force spokesman said: “Agencies are urging motorists to drive only if absolutely necessary following a number of the county’s roads being affected by surface water following continuous rainfall.
“Severe weather is expected to continue throughout this morning and people are being advised to get to a non-flood risk area and stay inside during the worst of the weather.”“Severe weather is expected to continue throughout this morning and people are being advised to get to a non-flood risk area and stay inside during the worst of the weather.”
Ch Insp Matt Kennerley said: “Many of the county’s roads, including the A66 at Threlkeld, have minor road surface flooding. Our advice is to drive only if necessary today as it is expected, that with further deteriorating weather conditions, more roads will be affected with an increasing severity.”Ch Insp Matt Kennerley said: “Many of the county’s roads, including the A66 at Threlkeld, have minor road surface flooding. Our advice is to drive only if necessary today as it is expected, that with further deteriorating weather conditions, more roads will be affected with an increasing severity.”
Kennerley also warned of significant crosswinds in the Shap area, where the M6 crosses high ground in Cumbria. The EA initially issued 12 severe flood warnings for areas in and around the two Cumbrian towns on Saturday but this was later reduced to six. He also warned of significant crosswinds in the Shap area, where the M6 crosses high ground in Cumbria. The EA initially issued 12 severe flood warnings for areas in and around the two Cumbrian towns on Saturday but this was later reduced to six.
The warnings follow the Met Office’s amber alert of severe weather for north-west Wales and parts of north-west England as more than a month’s rain was expected to fall from Saturday evening through Sunday.The warnings follow the Met Office’s amber alert of severe weather for north-west Wales and parts of north-west England as more than a month’s rain was expected to fall from Saturday evening through Sunday.
An agency spokesman said the severe warning means residents are urged to “take immediate action and prepare for property flooding”. An agency spokesman said the severe warning meant residents were urged to “take immediate action and prepare for property flooding”.
There are 70 flood warnings in force across England and Wales, along with 111 flood alerts.There are 70 flood warnings in force across England and Wales, along with 111 flood alerts.
“Heavy rain is falling on already saturated ground causing rivers to rise and bringing a risk of flooding across the north-west,” said Craig Woolhouse, EA director of incident management. “We urge people to check the risk of flooding in their area, sign up for flood warnings and be prepared to take immediate action.”“Heavy rain is falling on already saturated ground causing rivers to rise and bringing a risk of flooding across the north-west,” said Craig Woolhouse, EA director of incident management. “We urge people to check the risk of flooding in their area, sign up for flood warnings and be prepared to take immediate action.”
Further heavy rainfall is expected next week, the agency added. It said its teams were preparing temporary barriers, deploying sandbags along riverbanks, clearing river blockages and monitoring water levels.Further heavy rainfall is expected next week, the agency added. It said its teams were preparing temporary barriers, deploying sandbags along riverbanks, clearing river blockages and monitoring water levels.
The EA last week said it had sent two water pumps to Cumbria capable of pumping 120,000 cubic litres of floodwater a minute.The EA last week said it had sent two water pumps to Cumbria capable of pumping 120,000 cubic litres of floodwater a minute.