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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2015/dec/06/storm-desmond-uk-severe-flooding-and-extreme-weather-live-blog
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| Storm Desmond: 60,000 without power in UK after severe flooding – live blog | Storm Desmond: 60,000 without power in UK after severe flooding – live blog |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.17am GMT11:17 | |
| Adrian Holme, from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, told the BBC the flood was “unprecedented” and “exceptionally challenging” as more than 100 people were evacuated from Keswick. | |
| He said it was “absolutely devastating”, adding: “The flood defences that were built here in 2012 haven’t been breached, they have been over-topped. We have had 24 hours of constant rain.” | |
| Cumbria has been among the worst affected by the onslaught, with the village of Braithwaite becoming completely cut off when its main bridge, the Coledale High Bridge, collapsed as the river burst its banks. | |
| In Carlisle, flood levels continued to rise and helicopters carried out rescue missions overnight as cars became almost entirely submerged. | |
| Military forces have been called in to help evacuate people who wish to move, including elderly people, pets and families with babies. | |
| The British Red Cross teams, as reported in this post, also set up rest centres in Keswick, Appleby and Kendal, while medical groups issued an urgent call to draft in extra doctors amid fears the storm could cause casualties. | |
| Updated at 11.18am GMT | |
| 11.13am GMT11:13 | |
| The Red Cross, the humanitarian aid charity, has been called to provide support to residents affected by flooding. They have posted these series of tweets: | |
| The Red Cross has been called to provide support to #Cumbria residents affected by #flooding..(1/2) | |
| ..we have set up a control centre in #Newcastle to help co-ordinate our support to the #flooding response. (2/2) | |
| We currently have rest centres set up in #Keswick #Appleby #Kendal, three more on standby if required. #CumbriaFloods | |
| Our staff and volunteers have been providing support overnight including at rest centres in #Preston and #Lancaster... | |
| Around 170 people stayed at the rest centre in #Preston last night. We are also continuing to support residents in Cumbria #StormDesmond | |
| 11.08am GMT11:08 | |
| In Cumbria an emergency appeal has been launched. My colleague Mike Glover in Cumbria reports: | |
| An emergency appeal has been launched for anyone wishing to donate to assist individuals and families whose homes have had significant structural damage or flooding due to recent floods and storms which took place during the weekend of 5th and 6th December throughout Cumbria. | |
| Cumbria Community Foundation, which will administer the fund, has committed £50,000 from its own funds to prime the Appeal. | |
| Grants for charitable purposes will be distributed to relieve hardship, which can help with cleaning up, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating equipment, child care equipment and basic furniture. | |
| The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, who effectively managed the £3 million Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal following the floods in 2009. | |
| 11.06am GMT11:06 | |
| 118 warnings and 68 alerts in force | |
| There are currently 56 severe flood warnings, 62 warnings and 68 alerts in force at this location. | |
| The government live flood warning site has alerted members of the public there are submerged areas across the UK particularly close to rivers in the north which could endanger life. | |
| 10.54am GMT10:54 | |
| The storm is affecting other parts of the UK, with strong winds elsewhere. A 90-year-old man who lost his life is believed to have been blown into the side of a moving bus by a gust of wind, near Finchley Central Tube station, north London, a Scotland Yard spokesman said. | |
| Emergency services were called at about 12:35 GMT yesterday but the man died at the scene a short time later. | |
| The man’s next-of-kin have been told. | |
| 10.49am GMT10:49 | |
| Cumbria Police are warning residents of Carlisle to stay indoors and not travel following an update this morning from the Strategic Coordinating Group. | |
| River levels in Carlisle are expected to peak at 9.15am with a likelihood of flooding. | |
| A police statement said: | |
| We want to urge residents of Carlisle to keep devices and appliances charged up now, in preparation of the worst case scenario. | |
| Defences in the following areas are most at risk are: | |
| Temporary Chief Constable Michelle Skeer told the public to stay away from the fat-moving floodwater and sai: | |
| Motorists are urged again not to travel unless it is an emergency and to stay indoors and keep safe. Flood water is dangerous. Everyone is advised to stay away from swollen rivers and if you are travelling, check the flood risk before setting off and don’t drive through floodwater. Members of the public are continuing to drive through flooded water against our warnings causing more strain on resources from already stretched emergency services. | |
| The emergency services have urged people in most at risk areas to self-evacuate to family and friends this morning, or attend one of the four reception centres in Carlisle for advice and shelter. | |
| The four reception centres people can go to are:• Greystone Community Centre, Close Street• Richard Rose Morton Academy• Carlisle Sea Cadets, Nicholson Street• Trinity Church, Wigton Road | |
| 10.39am GMT10:39 | 10.39am GMT10:39 |
| My colleague Mike Glover in Cumbria reports the army had been called in to help police, fire and mountain rescue workers in areas such as Cockermouth, Kendal, Keswick, Windermere and Workington, which all suffered from localised flooding. | My colleague Mike Glover in Cumbria reports the army had been called in to help police, fire and mountain rescue workers in areas such as Cockermouth, Kendal, Keswick, Windermere and Workington, which all suffered from localised flooding. |
| He sends this dispatch: | He sends this dispatch: |
| Hundreds of families were evacuated and a motorist died as Storm Desmond lashed over northern Britain over the weekend. | Hundreds of families were evacuated and a motorist died as Storm Desmond lashed over northern Britain over the weekend. |
| Homes were submerged, transport was disrupted and whole towns cut off as almost a foot of rain fell in 24 hours, driven by 70 mph winds. | Homes were submerged, transport was disrupted and whole towns cut off as almost a foot of rain fell in 24 hours, driven by 70 mph winds. |
| Large tracts of country areas were under feet of water as rivers and streams were overwhelmed, turning fields into vast lakes. | Large tracts of country areas were under feet of water as rivers and streams were overwhelmed, turning fields into vast lakes. |
| Bales of animal feed, weighing up to a ton, were bobbing around like corks in the raging torrents. | Bales of animal feed, weighing up to a ton, were bobbing around like corks in the raging torrents. |
| As the skies cleared this morning the extent of damage and debris shocked residents and rescuers. Many bridges were thought to have become unstable, which will bring chaos to transport for months. | As the skies cleared this morning the extent of damage and debris shocked residents and rescuers. Many bridges were thought to have become unstable, which will bring chaos to transport for months. |
| One resident in Keswick, where the River Greta reached its highest level in living memory said: | One resident in Keswick, where the River Greta reached its highest level in living memory said: |
| It is absolutely shocking to see the extent of the debris, with whole trees uprooted. It is unbelievable.” | It is absolutely shocking to see the extent of the debris, with whole trees uprooted. It is unbelievable.” |
| In Cumbria, one of the worst affected areas, police and partner agencies declared the severe weather a major incident. | In Cumbria, one of the worst affected areas, police and partner agencies declared the severe weather a major incident. |
| An appeal was launched at the weekend for £1m to help people deal with the cost of the clear-up. | An appeal was launched at the weekend for £1m to help people deal with the cost of the clear-up. |
| @CumbriaWeather @BBC_Cumbria water running back into river #Kent, #Kendal but flood damage all along river pic.twitter.com/K4rduoHSuh | @CumbriaWeather @BBC_Cumbria water running back into river #Kent, #Kendal but flood damage all along river pic.twitter.com/K4rduoHSuh |
| In neighbouring Lancashire a front seat passenger died when a 4x4 type vehicle, travelling from Lancaster towards Caton on Low Road, collided with a wall on a right hand bend. | In neighbouring Lancashire a front seat passenger died when a 4x4 type vehicle, travelling from Lancaster towards Caton on Low Road, collided with a wall on a right hand bend. |
| The car came to rest in flood water. The 48 year old woman, who was the front seat passenger was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary with serious head injuries where she sadly later died. | The car came to rest in flood water. The 48 year old woman, who was the front seat passenger was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary with serious head injuries where she sadly later died. |
| In Eamont Bridge, South of Penrith and 30 miles from the sea, 150 people were rescued by the Coastguard after a static residential caravan park was heavily flooded. | In Eamont Bridge, South of Penrith and 30 miles from the sea, 150 people were rescued by the Coastguard after a static residential caravan park was heavily flooded. |
| Yesterday the focus switched to Carlisle, down-stream of Appleby on the River Eden. | Yesterday the focus switched to Carlisle, down-stream of Appleby on the River Eden. |
| A strategic coordination group has worked throughout the night to prepare for potential flooding in Carlisle where river levels are expected to peak. | A strategic coordination group has worked throughout the night to prepare for potential flooding in Carlisle where river levels are expected to peak. |
| 10.18am GMT10:18 | 10.18am GMT10:18 |
| Here’s what we know so far: | Here’s what we know so far: |
| #Powercut numbers update. We expect to restore 'storm' faults today. 'Flooding' faults may take significantly longer pic.twitter.com/EIdx4EcVj4 | #Powercut numbers update. We expect to restore 'storm' faults today. 'Flooding' faults may take significantly longer pic.twitter.com/EIdx4EcVj4 |
| 56 severe flood warnings issued across northern England. Flooding is expected, take immediate action https://t.co/Np3m6B2tZ3 #alert | 56 severe flood warnings issued across northern England. Flooding is expected, take immediate action https://t.co/Np3m6B2tZ3 #alert |
| Daybreak reveals the devastation throughout Cumbria. That "canal" is actually the London to Scotland main rail line. pic.twitter.com/KoGbutymkC | Daybreak reveals the devastation throughout Cumbria. That "canal" is actually the London to Scotland main rail line. pic.twitter.com/KoGbutymkC |
| Updated at 10.34am GMT | Updated at 10.34am GMT |
| 9.54am GMT09:54 | 9.54am GMT09:54 |
| Storm Desmond leaves UK in chaos | Storm Desmond leaves UK in chaos |
| Aisha Gani | Aisha Gani |
| Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of Storm Desmond. The army has been deployed and families evacuated as the extreme weather brings heavy rain and strong winds to Scotland and northern England. | Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of Storm Desmond. The army has been deployed and families evacuated as the extreme weather brings heavy rain and strong winds to Scotland and northern England. |
| Flood waters are expected to reach their peak today as the storm continues to wreak havoc across Britain, forcing thousands of people out of their homes. | Flood waters are expected to reach their peak today as the storm continues to wreak havoc across Britain, forcing thousands of people out of their homes. |
| So far, severe flood warnings have been issued with coastguards carrying out rescue operations in Carlisle, Cumbria, as river levels reach their highest recorded. Power cuts have been reported across the north-west of England, with 60,000 in Lancaster. | So far, severe flood warnings have been issued with coastguards carrying out rescue operations in Carlisle, Cumbria, as river levels reach their highest recorded. Power cuts have been reported across the north-west of England, with 60,000 in Lancaster. |
| Saturday was exceptionally wet, and very windy in places, with #StormDesmond causing significant disruption pic.twitter.com/3DObjxH7Vw | Saturday was exceptionally wet, and very windy in places, with #StormDesmond causing significant disruption pic.twitter.com/3DObjxH7Vw |
| I will be bringing you live updates as we get them – leave your comments below or tweet me @aishagani. | I will be bringing you live updates as we get them – leave your comments below or tweet me @aishagani. |
| Updated at 10.35am GMT | Updated at 10.35am GMT |