This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2015/dec/09/storm-desmond-recovery-threatened-by-more-rain-live-updates
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Storm Desmond recovery threatened by more rain – live updates | Storm Desmond recovery threatened by more rain – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.14am GMT10:14 | 10.14am GMT10:14 |
| BBC Radio 4’s Today programme had a cheering interview with Gordon Tweedie, a Cumbrian dairy farmer who has been reunited with a herd of cows that he feared had perished in the floods. | BBC Radio 4’s Today programme had a cheering interview with Gordon Tweedie, a Cumbrian dairy farmer who has been reunited with a herd of cows that he feared had perished in the floods. |
| Tweedie, who farms near Penrith, lost 45 cows in the floods. | Tweedie, who farms near Penrith, lost 45 cows in the floods. |
| All of them have now been recovered including one that turned up 20 miles away on a golf course beyond Carlisle. | All of them have now been recovered including one that turned up 20 miles away on a golf course beyond Carlisle. |
| Tweedie said the cow could swim a bit but was also carried away in the flood water. | Tweedie said the cow could swim a bit but was also carried away in the flood water. |
| He added that other farmers had not been so lucky. “We are very concerned about those who have lost lots of stock, lots of sheep. There’s a group of goats that have gone down the river ... We urge the government and all the other authorities to provide help for agriculture just like they are providing help for the towns and cities.” | He added that other farmers had not been so lucky. “We are very concerned about those who have lost lots of stock, lots of sheep. There’s a group of goats that have gone down the river ... We urge the government and all the other authorities to provide help for agriculture just like they are providing help for the towns and cities.” |
| He added: “All’s well with [my] cattle, but please remember the people in the rural areas of Cumbria who are in great need at the moment and there’s lots of restoration work to be done.” | He added: “All’s well with [my] cattle, but please remember the people in the rural areas of Cumbria who are in great need at the moment and there’s lots of restoration work to be done.” |
| Updated at 10.30am GMT | |
| 9.35am GMT09:35 | 9.35am GMT09:35 |
| Before vowing to contact every flood-hit parish, Stewart has been involved in a spat with Guardian columnist George Monbiot. | Before vowing to contact every flood-hit parish, Stewart has been involved in a spat with Guardian columnist George Monbiot. |
| In his Tuesday column Monbiot criticised Stewart, and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, for questioning calls for the better management of watersheds to prevent flooding. | In his Tuesday column Monbiot criticised Stewart, and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, for questioning calls for the better management of watersheds to prevent flooding. |
| In 2013, Rory Stewart blasted the National Trust because it “allows water to ruin the lowland pastures of their small tenant farms, apparently on the advice of the Environment Agency”. In 2014, he mocked the RSPB and the water company United Utilities for managing their land “in a way that ‘increased biodiversity, decreased flooding, increased carbon capture’” ... | In 2013, Rory Stewart blasted the National Trust because it “allows water to ruin the lowland pastures of their small tenant farms, apparently on the advice of the Environment Agency”. In 2014, he mocked the RSPB and the water company United Utilities for managing their land “in a way that ‘increased biodiversity, decreased flooding, increased carbon capture’” ... |
| Now Messrs Stewart and Farron wring their hands and wring out their clothes, lamenting this inexplicable act of God. | Now Messrs Stewart and Farron wring their hands and wring out their clothes, lamenting this inexplicable act of God. |
| Stewart appears to be sticking to his views but offered to discuss the issue with Monbiot as well as the Environment Agency and the Met Office. | Stewart appears to be sticking to his views but offered to discuss the issue with Monbiot as well as the Environment Agency and the Met Office. |
| @GeorgeMonbiot @timfarron - we'll be in touch - prime driver has been rainfall intensity not grazing - suggest talk with EA +met office | @GeorgeMonbiot @timfarron - we'll be in touch - prime driver has been rainfall intensity not grazing - suggest talk with EA +met office |
| Writing on the Conservativehome blog, Andrew Gimson said Stewart’s run-in with Monbiot will be regarded as a feather in his new flood minister’s cap. | Writing on the Conservativehome blog, Andrew Gimson said Stewart’s run-in with Monbiot will be regarded as a feather in his new flood minister’s cap. |
| Here’s an extract of Gimson’s sympathetic profile of Stewart: | Here’s an extract of Gimson’s sympathetic profile of Stewart: |
| Early life was crowded with incident: he had been under fire in Iraq, walked 6,000 miles across Asia, written a successful book about the Afghan section of that walk, become a professor at Harvard and sold the rights to his story to Brad Pitt, who was reported to be planning a major motion picture with Orlando Bloom as the hero. | Early life was crowded with incident: he had been under fire in Iraq, walked 6,000 miles across Asia, written a successful book about the Afghan section of that walk, become a professor at Harvard and sold the rights to his story to Brad Pitt, who was reported to be planning a major motion picture with Orlando Bloom as the hero. |
| And now Stewart is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs. Just now, this means he is floods minister. His gift for being on the spot as dramatic events unfold has not deserted him. | And now Stewart is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs. Just now, this means he is floods minister. His gift for being on the spot as dramatic events unfold has not deserted him. |
| His vast constituency of Penrith and the Border has been grievously afflicted by the floods. Even in normal times it can take two hours to drive from one end of the seat to the other, which is the largest in England and includes 40 miles of the border with Scotland. | His vast constituency of Penrith and the Border has been grievously afflicted by the floods. Even in normal times it can take two hours to drive from one end of the seat to the other, which is the largest in England and includes 40 miles of the border with Scotland. |
| We have seen Stewart popping up all over this great expanse of country in a high-visibility jacket, paying tribute in an earnest tone to the emergency services, including contingents from as far away as Cornwall, and to his own constituents. There has been a total absence of Churchillian bombast, and a palpable concern for people whose livelihoods have been wrecked. | We have seen Stewart popping up all over this great expanse of country in a high-visibility jacket, paying tribute in an earnest tone to the emergency services, including contingents from as far away as Cornwall, and to his own constituents. There has been a total absence of Churchillian bombast, and a palpable concern for people whose livelihoods have been wrecked. |
| It falls to him as well as to his boss, Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary, to defend the Tories’ record since 2010 on flood defence. He has been denounced in the Guardian by George Monbiot: a rite of passage without which one cannot be said, in environmental circles, to have arrived. | It falls to him as well as to his boss, Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary, to defend the Tories’ record since 2010 on flood defence. He has been denounced in the Guardian by George Monbiot: a rite of passage without which one cannot be said, in environmental circles, to have arrived. |
| Updated at 9.36am GMT | Updated at 9.36am GMT |
| 9.14am GMT09:14 | 9.14am GMT09:14 |
| Floods minister and Rory Stewart has vowed to contact every parish hit by the floods including areas in Yorkshire, Northumberland and Lancashire, as well as Cumbria. | Floods minister and Rory Stewart has vowed to contact every parish hit by the floods including areas in Yorkshire, Northumberland and Lancashire, as well as Cumbria. |
| Pse RT Keen to speak to EVERY flooded parish. Cd parish council chairs please email CALC to make sure I have complete list to call + visit | Pse RT Keen to speak to EVERY flooded parish. Cd parish council chairs please email CALC to make sure I have complete list to call + visit |
| @Yorkie71 - yes - I'm trying to contact all flooded parishes - Lancs, Nberland + Yorks included. If outside Cumbria email me not CALC | @Yorkie71 - yes - I'm trying to contact all flooded parishes - Lancs, Nberland + Yorks included. If outside Cumbria email me not CALC |
| 8.59am GMT08:59 | 8.59am GMT08:59 |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| Heavy rain is forecast to return to Cumbria later with up to 12 hours of rainfall and further flooding possible, residents have been warned, writes Josh Halliday in Penrith. | Heavy rain is forecast to return to Cumbria later with up to 12 hours of rainfall and further flooding possible, residents have been warned, writes Josh Halliday in Penrith. |
| Some forecasters have predicted between 20mm and 40mm of rainfall starting on Wednesday afternoon. | Some forecasters have predicted between 20mm and 40mm of rainfall starting on Wednesday afternoon. |
| The Environment Agency said up to 58mm of rain could fall on Wednesday evening into Thursday, potentially hampering the recovery of the areas worst-hit at the weekend. | The Environment Agency said up to 58mm of rain could fall on Wednesday evening into Thursday, potentially hampering the recovery of the areas worst-hit at the weekend. |
| However, any flooding would not be of the same magnitude as that caused by Storm Desmond, which saw thousands of people evacuated from their homes and many more without power for days. | However, any flooding would not be of the same magnitude as that caused by Storm Desmond, which saw thousands of people evacuated from their homes and many more without power for days. |
| Sixteen flood alerts remain in place across Cumbria and Lancashire – however 48 have been removed in the past 24 hours indicating that the worst of the storm is over.Only one severe weather warning, meaning there is a risk to life, remains in place – for the area around the Lancashire village of St Michaels, south of the swollen river Wyre. | Sixteen flood alerts remain in place across Cumbria and Lancashire – however 48 have been removed in the past 24 hours indicating that the worst of the storm is over.Only one severe weather warning, meaning there is a risk to life, remains in place – for the area around the Lancashire village of St Michaels, south of the swollen river Wyre. |
| Flood warnings remain in place for areas around the Rivers Eden an Petteril, including Keswick campsite and Carlisle city centre – whose main artery, Warwick Road, only began to return to normal on Tuesday amid a clear-up by Carlisle United footballers. | Flood warnings remain in place for areas around the Rivers Eden an Petteril, including Keswick campsite and Carlisle city centre – whose main artery, Warwick Road, only began to return to normal on Tuesday amid a clear-up by Carlisle United footballers. |
| In a flood warning posted on Tuesday evening, the Environment Agency warned of more rain to come: | In a flood warning posted on Tuesday evening, the Environment Agency warned of more rain to come: |
| “River levels have peaked and are receding to normal levels however a flood alert remains in force. We advise that you keep an eye on the situation by listening to weather forecasts, checking our web pages or calling Floodline.“Operational teams are focusing on removal of water. Key to this is identifying suitable sites for the installation of pumping equipment which is being brought in from across the country. | “River levels have peaked and are receding to normal levels however a flood alert remains in force. We advise that you keep an eye on the situation by listening to weather forecasts, checking our web pages or calling Floodline.“Operational teams are focusing on removal of water. Key to this is identifying suitable sites for the installation of pumping equipment which is being brought in from across the country. |
| “Our Incident Response teams are on 24 hour duty. We will continue to monitor the situation and update this forecast as new information becomes available. Rain is forecast between 5am and mid day on the 9th December of up to 10mm in 1 hour. This is a low confidence forecast. | “Our Incident Response teams are on 24 hour duty. We will continue to monitor the situation and update this forecast as new information becomes available. Rain is forecast between 5am and mid day on the 9th December of up to 10mm in 1 hour. This is a low confidence forecast. |
| “This is forecast for the north west and south Lakes area. A further persistent band of rain is forecast over Cumbria Wednesday evening of up to 58mm maximum and will continue into Thursday.” | “This is forecast for the north west and south Lakes area. A further persistent band of rain is forecast over Cumbria Wednesday evening of up to 58mm maximum and will continue into Thursday.” |
| Steve Cleaton, of BBC Weather, said rain would begin to ease off in the early hours of Thursday. | Steve Cleaton, of BBC Weather, said rain would begin to ease off in the early hours of Thursday. |
| “There is scope for some issues because of the persistent rain but nothing like what it was over the weekend - when there was 36 hours of rain. This will be about 10 to 12 hours”, he said. | “There is scope for some issues because of the persistent rain but nothing like what it was over the weekend - when there was 36 hours of rain. This will be about 10 to 12 hours”, he said. |
| “The level of rainfall will be between 20mm to 40mm - it’s a reasonable amount of rain but not comparable to what we had.” | “The level of rainfall will be between 20mm to 40mm - it’s a reasonable amount of rain but not comparable to what we had.” |
| 8.42am GMT08:42 | 8.42am GMT08:42 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of Storm Desmond as heavy rain returns to Cumbria threatening further flooding and hampering the cleanup operation. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of Storm Desmond as heavy rain returns to Cumbria threatening further flooding and hampering the cleanup operation. |
| Here’s a round up of how things currently stand: | Here’s a round up of how things currently stand: |