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Army trucks used as ambulances after flooding cuts power in Lancaster Army trucks used as ambulances after flooding cuts power in Lancaster
(about 2 hours later)
Army trucks have been stationed at a hospital in Lancaster to act as ambulances after flooding cut the city off from the power grid and blocked all but one access route.Army trucks have been stationed at a hospital in Lancaster to act as ambulances after flooding cut the city off from the power grid and blocked all but one access route.
The Royal Lancaster infirmary (RLI) is running on generator power after an electricity substation flooded, cutting electricity to 55,000 homes and businesses in Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and the surrounding areas.The Royal Lancaster infirmary (RLI) is running on generator power after an electricity substation flooded, cutting electricity to 55,000 homes and businesses in Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and the surrounding areas.
Outside the hospital’s A&E department, troops from a battalion at Weeton barracks, near Blackpool, were on standby to pick up seriously ill patients in camouflage trucks if normal ambulances were unable to.Outside the hospital’s A&E department, troops from a battalion at Weeton barracks, near Blackpool, were on standby to pick up seriously ill patients in camouflage trucks if normal ambulances were unable to.
On Sunday morning, soldiers moved one woman in a coma from the Victoria hospital in Morecambe to the RLI, after all the road bridges over the river Lune between Morecambe and Lancaster were shut due to flood damage. Currently the only way to cross between the two towns is via the Carlisle footbridge or a long detour on the M6.On Sunday morning, soldiers moved one woman in a coma from the Victoria hospital in Morecambe to the RLI, after all the road bridges over the river Lune between Morecambe and Lancaster were shut due to flood damage. Currently the only way to cross between the two towns is via the Carlisle footbridge or a long detour on the M6.
It was like the zombie apocalypseIt was like the zombie apocalypse
Flood defences that were upgraded in 2010 to withstand a “one in 100 years” flood were breached just before 11pm on Saturday night, Electricity North West said. Engineers from the power company were working with Lancashire fire and rescue service on Sunday to determine when it would be safe to access the flooded substation.Flood defences that were upgraded in 2010 to withstand a “one in 100 years” flood were breached just before 11pm on Saturday night, Electricity North West said. Engineers from the power company were working with Lancashire fire and rescue service on Sunday to determine when it would be safe to access the flooded substation.
Power is not expected to be restored before Tuesday, prompting exasperation in Lancaster. Traffic lights were out of action causing long tailbacks. Cash machines were out of service, though with almost all shops closed, places to spend money were few and far between. There was no phone signal in the city centre.Power is not expected to be restored before Tuesday, prompting exasperation in Lancaster. Traffic lights were out of action causing long tailbacks. Cash machines were out of service, though with almost all shops closed, places to spend money were few and far between. There was no phone signal in the city centre.
Lancaster is flooded #Lancaster #LancashireFloods pic.twitter.com/ynFZ77EyAlLancaster is flooded #Lancaster #LancashireFloods pic.twitter.com/ynFZ77EyAl
Queues for the few remaining telephone boxes in Lancaster were more than 10 deep with some students using a payphone for the first time.Queues for the few remaining telephone boxes in Lancaster were more than 10 deep with some students using a payphone for the first time.
A crowd had gathered outside Sainsbury’s by the river Lune where staff were handing out free baps and loaves of bread. James Melody, 20, and his girlfriend Esme Moxley, also 20, were happy to have got their hands on one brown loaf. “It’s so weird to see people using phoneboxes. I wouldn’t know how,” said Melody.A crowd had gathered outside Sainsbury’s by the river Lune where staff were handing out free baps and loaves of bread. James Melody, 20, and his girlfriend Esme Moxley, also 20, were happy to have got their hands on one brown loaf. “It’s so weird to see people using phoneboxes. I wouldn’t know how,” said Melody.
“I think the only time I’ve used one was when I was little, to do prank phone calls,” said Moxley, who was wondering how she would get back to her home in Leeds, with no trains running north of Preston.“I think the only time I’ve used one was when I was little, to do prank phone calls,” said Moxley, who was wondering how she would get back to her home in Leeds, with no trains running north of Preston.
Elsewhere, the blitz spirit reigned. Outside his house on Greaves Road, teacher Piers Napper was cooking scrambled eggs on a camping stove. “I rescued it from the garage in the dark this morning,” he said. “We’re hoping the gas will last until we get power back.”Elsewhere, the blitz spirit reigned. Outside his house on Greaves Road, teacher Piers Napper was cooking scrambled eggs on a camping stove. “I rescued it from the garage in the dark this morning,” he said. “We’re hoping the gas will last until we get power back.”
One fella was cooking scrambled eggs on a camping stove outside his home in Lancaster; long queues for pay phones pic.twitter.com/LEi4UEsQCv
Sainsbury's in Lancaster was giving out free loaves of bread today, as the city told no electricity before Tuesday pic.twitter.com/KYZQaqOStG
On Upper Church Street, the emergency units of the Salvation Army were dishing out cups of tea and soup. Among them was heavily pregnant nurse Dina Filippou, 25, whose baby is due in two weeks. “We are hoping the power will come back on soon,” she said.On Upper Church Street, the emergency units of the Salvation Army were dishing out cups of tea and soup. Among them was heavily pregnant nurse Dina Filippou, 25, whose baby is due in two weeks. “We are hoping the power will come back on soon,” she said.
On Saturday night, revellers out in the bottom end of the city centre left the pubs and clubs when the lights went off about 11pm. “It was like the zombie apocalypse,” said James Howard, who runs Go Burrito on Church Street. “Drunk people were diving in the water, it was crazy. There was a rescue dinghy coming up North Road and cars were floating past.”On Saturday night, revellers out in the bottom end of the city centre left the pubs and clubs when the lights went off about 11pm. “It was like the zombie apocalypse,” said James Howard, who runs Go Burrito on Church Street. “Drunk people were diving in the water, it was crazy. There was a rescue dinghy coming up North Road and cars were floating past.”
His neighbour Rohina Caterina, who runs the Stonewell Tavern, said she had to close at 7pm on Saturday night because her cellars flooded. “You should have heard the noise when the water started coming in. It was like someone had left the bath taps on,” she said. “Outside the pub people were saying ‘Let’s go and rob some shops. The CCTV won’t be working.’”His neighbour Rohina Caterina, who runs the Stonewell Tavern, said she had to close at 7pm on Saturday night because her cellars flooded. “You should have heard the noise when the water started coming in. It was like someone had left the bath taps on,” she said. “Outside the pub people were saying ‘Let’s go and rob some shops. The CCTV won’t be working.’”
Lancashire fire service deployed a rescue boat to ferry patients up to the RLI, a fireman said. Another boat from the West Yorkshire fire service had also been in action, he added.Lancashire fire service deployed a rescue boat to ferry patients up to the RLI, a fireman said. Another boat from the West Yorkshire fire service had also been in action, he added.
Howard expected business to be out of action for the rest of the year. “It’s a disaster for us coming at what should be our busiest time of the year. Not only will we have to pay thousands to get our electrics sorted, but we’ve lost all of our stock because the fridges are off. It’s a nightmare.”Howard expected business to be out of action for the rest of the year. “It’s a disaster for us coming at what should be our busiest time of the year. Not only will we have to pay thousands to get our electrics sorted, but we’ve lost all of our stock because the fridges are off. It’s a nightmare.”