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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2015/dec/28/uk-floods-thousands-evacuated-after-unprecedented-crisis
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| UK floods: people told to waterproof homes because of increase in 'unknown extremes' - live | UK floods: people told to waterproof homes because of increase in 'unknown extremes' - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.32am GMT11:32 | |
| Judith Blake, the council leader in Leeds, has said the government needs to act now to stop what she sees as a north-south gap in support for prevention schemes. This from PA. | |
| Blake said a flood prevention scheme for the city was ditched by the government in 2011. And the Labour councillor contrasted the response to floods in the north of England with what happened following the inundation of parts of Somerset last year. | |
| Asked if she saw the situation in terms of a north-south divide, she said: “I think we’re beginning to feel that very strongly. At that time there were other flooding events in the north that didn’t get anywhere near the support that we saw going into Somerset.” | |
| She said that, in response to very high river levels during the 2007 floods, a scheme was drawn up to protect the whole of the city from the River Aire. But, she said, the government pulled the funding in 2011, leaving the council to fund just the first phase of the project, in the city centre. | |
| She said: “I think there’s a real anger growing across the north about the fact that the cuts have been made to the flood defences and we’ll be having those conversations as soon as we are sure that people are safe and that we start the clean-up process and really begin the assess the scale of the damage.” | |
| She said: “So there are some very serious questions for government to answer on this and we’ll be putting as much pressure on as possible to redress the balance and get the funding situation equalised so the north get its fair share.” | |
| 11.21am GMT11:21 | |
| Some information on the extent of the damage in Leeds. | |
| Leeds City council leader says 2000 homes and 400 businesses have been affected in Leeds by the flooding #HeartNews | |
| 11.16am GMT11:16 | |
| The Yorkshire Post reports that teams from Aviva insurance are on the ground in Yorkshire and Lancashire to meet customers who have been flooded and help them in the recovery process. NFU Mutual, which supports rural communities, has also activated its emergency plans. | |
| Rob Townend, UK claims director for Aviva, said: “Property damage as a result of flooding or storms is one of the most traumatic events that a homeowner and business can suffer. This trauma places huge responsibilities on us, the insurance industry. We can’t stop the weather, but we can work tirelessly to support our customers affected by the events brought by this horrendous storm.” | |
| 11.07am GMT11:07 | |
| One of the government’s staunchest critics when it comes to flood defence is Guardian columnist George Monbiot. In a piece two weeks ago, Monbiot made the case for planting more trees and less dredging. | |
| A rational policy would aim to prevent the flood from gathering in the first place. It would address the problem, literally and metaphorically, upstream. A study in mid-Wales suggests that rainwater’s infiltration rate into the soil is 67 times higher under trees than under sheep pasture. Rain that percolates into the ground is released more slowly than rain that flashes off the surface. But Cumbria’s hills are almost entirely treeless, and taxpayers, through the subsidy regime, fund farmers to keep them that way. | |
| 10.51am GMT10:51 | 10.51am GMT10:51 |
| Here is the deputy head of the Environment Agency, David Rooke, talking about the need to “waterproof” homes. | Here is the deputy head of the Environment Agency, David Rooke, talking about the need to “waterproof” homes. |
| 10.49am GMT10:49 | 10.49am GMT10:49 |
| The Manchester Evening News has this story about the Mark Addy pub, which was flooded by the River Irwell. Allen Caldwell, the owner, says it’s a write-off. | The Manchester Evening News has this story about the Mark Addy pub, which was flooded by the River Irwell. Allen Caldwell, the owner, says it’s a write-off. |
| The sound system which cost £50,000 has been completely lost. Overall I would estimate the cost of the damage is £150,000 to £200,000. We had just fitted a new kitchen and were due to start serving food next month. The water reached everywhere – the main bar, the cellar, office, and kitchen. We don’t have insurance for flooding – no one would cover us because of the location. | The sound system which cost £50,000 has been completely lost. Overall I would estimate the cost of the damage is £150,000 to £200,000. We had just fitted a new kitchen and were due to start serving food next month. The water reached everywhere – the main bar, the cellar, office, and kitchen. We don’t have insurance for flooding – no one would cover us because of the location. |
| Updated at 10.50am GMT | Updated at 10.50am GMT |
| 10.33am GMT10:33 | 10.33am GMT10:33 |
| The Yorkshire Post berates the government for not spending enough on flood defences. | The Yorkshire Post berates the government for not spending enough on flood defences. |
| Mr Cameron needs to remember that Yorkshire and the north will not become an economic powerhouse if left to the mercy of “unprecedented” weather events because past and present governments failed to invest in adequate flood defences and contingency planning. The prime minister should be aware that the cost of inaction is a greater expense in the long-term, and even more heartache for those families on the flooding frontline. It’s time for the political tide to turn, starting now. | Mr Cameron needs to remember that Yorkshire and the north will not become an economic powerhouse if left to the mercy of “unprecedented” weather events because past and present governments failed to invest in adequate flood defences and contingency planning. The prime minister should be aware that the cost of inaction is a greater expense in the long-term, and even more heartache for those families on the flooding frontline. It’s time for the political tide to turn, starting now. |
| Updated at 10.33am GMT | Updated at 10.33am GMT |
| 10.05am GMT10:05 | 10.05am GMT10:05 |
| Flood rescue teams in York go house to house to evacuate people trapped in buildings. York, Leeds and Manchester have been by affected by the severe weather, alongside scores of towns and villages. Thousands of households and businesses have been evacuated. | Flood rescue teams in York go house to house to evacuate people trapped in buildings. York, Leeds and Manchester have been by affected by the severe weather, alongside scores of towns and villages. Thousands of households and businesses have been evacuated. |
| Updated at 10.33am GMT | Updated at 10.33am GMT |
| 9.59am GMT09:59 | 9.59am GMT09:59 |
| Labour MP Simon Danczuk has become the latest to question foreign aid at a time when money is needed for floods at home. The UK is one of the few rich nations to meet the UN target of spending 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on aid every year. | Labour MP Simon Danczuk has become the latest to question foreign aid at a time when money is needed for floods at home. The UK is one of the few rich nations to meet the UN target of spending 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on aid every year. |
| “Why do we spend money in Bangladesh when it needs spending in Great Britain? What we need to do is to sort out the problems which are occurring here and not focus so much on developing countries. That has to be our priority,” the MP for Rochdale told BBC Radio Manchester. | “Why do we spend money in Bangladesh when it needs spending in Great Britain? What we need to do is to sort out the problems which are occurring here and not focus so much on developing countries. That has to be our priority,” the MP for Rochdale told BBC Radio Manchester. |
| Danczuk also criticised cuts at the Environment Agency. Although the agency had been pressed to do more prevention work, because of cutbacks we “could not expect that to happen”, he said. | Danczuk also criticised cuts at the Environment Agency. Although the agency had been pressed to do more prevention work, because of cutbacks we “could not expect that to happen”, he said. |
| “It’s all about prevention – I think more could have been done, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I think the Environment Agency could have done more to prepare for this. We would have anticipated this and concerns were raised with the Environment Agency.” | “It’s all about prevention – I think more could have been done, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I think the Environment Agency could have done more to prepare for this. We would have anticipated this and concerns were raised with the Environment Agency.” |
| Over the weekend, Rochdale was one of the worst affected areas. Flood defences at the Rochdale substation were upgraded in 2010 as part of a £468,000 scheme to protect power supplies against a “one-in-200-years” flood. | Over the weekend, Rochdale was one of the worst affected areas. Flood defences at the Rochdale substation were upgraded in 2010 as part of a £468,000 scheme to protect power supplies against a “one-in-200-years” flood. |
| Updated at 10.34am GMT | Updated at 10.34am GMT |
| 9.31am GMT09:31 | 9.31am GMT09:31 |
| Labour MP Ivan Lewis urges David Cameron to request EU funds for help with floods. | Labour MP Ivan Lewis urges David Cameron to request EU funds for help with floods. |
| Really important intervention by our MEPs calling on PM to apply for support from European Solidarity Fund to help with impact of flooding.1 | Really important intervention by our MEPs calling on PM to apply for support from European Solidarity Fund to help with impact of flooding.1 |
| Fund specifically available to help member states cope with impact of disasters such as flooding. Mystery why Govt so far refused to apply. | Fund specifically available to help member states cope with impact of disasters such as flooding. Mystery why Govt so far refused to apply. |
| 9.24am GMT09:24 | 9.24am GMT09:24 |
| The river Wharfe bursts its banks. | The river Wharfe bursts its banks. |
| Updated at 9.38am GMT | Updated at 9.38am GMT |
| 9.22am GMT09:22 | 9.22am GMT09:22 |
| Walmgate, York. | Walmgate, York. |
| Updated at 9.26am GMT | Updated at 9.26am GMT |
| 9.21am GMT09:21 | 9.21am GMT09:21 |
| York city centre. | York city centre. |
| Updated at 9.37am GMT | Updated at 9.37am GMT |
| 9.19am GMT09:19 | 9.19am GMT09:19 |
| Soldiers resting in between flood duty. | Soldiers resting in between flood duty. |
| Updated at 9.26am GMT | Updated at 9.26am GMT |
| 9.10am GMT09:10 | 9.10am GMT09:10 |
| The GMB union has criticised planned staff cuts at the Environment Agency, which it said would reduce the number of people able to respond to floods out of hours, PA reports. | The GMB union has criticised planned staff cuts at the Environment Agency, which it said would reduce the number of people able to respond to floods out of hours, PA reports. |
| National officer Justin Bowden said a meeting due in the middle of January to decide how many jobs should go in which parts of the country as part of a funding squeeze should be halted. | National officer Justin Bowden said a meeting due in the middle of January to decide how many jobs should go in which parts of the country as part of a funding squeeze should be halted. |
| “You would have thought David Cameron had learned the lesson from the floods of 2013-14. Apparently not,” he said. “GMB members at the Environment Agency still do not know what day-to-day revenue spending will be on maintenance of flood defences from 2016-17 onwards. | “You would have thought David Cameron had learned the lesson from the floods of 2013-14. Apparently not,” he said. “GMB members at the Environment Agency still do not know what day-to-day revenue spending will be on maintenance of flood defences from 2016-17 onwards. |
| “This is apart from the scrapping of hundreds of flood defence schemes due to cuts in spending. The Environment Agency board should ask government to halt these cuts. | “This is apart from the scrapping of hundreds of flood defence schemes due to cuts in spending. The Environment Agency board should ask government to halt these cuts. |
| As things stand, the number of staff who will be available to deal with flooding out of hours is due to fall. There will be a meeting in mid-January 2016 to discuss how many jobs will be cut and where. This meeting should be called off. This month’s weather and flooding are yet another reminder of the foolhardy stupidity of the government making spending cuts to the Environment Agency.” | As things stand, the number of staff who will be available to deal with flooding out of hours is due to fall. There will be a meeting in mid-January 2016 to discuss how many jobs will be cut and where. This meeting should be called off. This month’s weather and flooding are yet another reminder of the foolhardy stupidity of the government making spending cuts to the Environment Agency.” |
| Updated at 9.28am GMT | Updated at 9.28am GMT |
| 9.03am GMT09:03 | 9.03am GMT09:03 |
| Here is our latest flood graphic, showing the worst hit areas. | Here is our latest flood graphic, showing the worst hit areas. |
| 8.50am GMT08:50 | 8.50am GMT08:50 |
| 'We are moving from known extremes to unknown extremes' | 'We are moving from known extremes to unknown extremes' |
| Britain is now facing “unknown extremes” in weather, which means flood defences alone will not prevent disasters and people will need to “waterproof their homes”, David Rooke, the deputy chief executive of the Environment Agency, has said. | Britain is now facing “unknown extremes” in weather, which means flood defences alone will not prevent disasters and people will need to “waterproof their homes”, David Rooke, the deputy chief executive of the Environment Agency, has said. |
| “We are moving from know extremes to unknown extremes,” he told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding that no country can guarantee against flooding. | “We are moving from know extremes to unknown extremes,” he told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding that no country can guarantee against flooding. |
| Under repeated questioning as to whether the government had done enough on flood protection, Rooke returned to the review the government had set up after the earlier floods in Cumbria. | Under repeated questioning as to whether the government had done enough on flood protection, Rooke returned to the review the government had set up after the earlier floods in Cumbria. |
| “The review will seek to to look at whether assumptions are valid,” he said. “We need to reassess all defences across the country and what protection is needed in the future.” | “The review will seek to to look at whether assumptions are valid,” he said. “We need to reassess all defences across the country and what protection is needed in the future.” |
| He said: “We will need to have that complete rethink and I think we will need to move from not just providing better defences – and we have a £2.3bn programme to do that over the next six years – but looking at increasing resilience so that, when properties do flood, they’ve got solid floors, we have waterproof plaster, we’ve moved the electrics up the wall, people can get back into their homes and their businesses very quickly and that we continue to improve our flood warning systems so that, in the event of defences overtopping, people have time to take action and we can save lives.” | He said: “We will need to have that complete rethink and I think we will need to move from not just providing better defences – and we have a £2.3bn programme to do that over the next six years – but looking at increasing resilience so that, when properties do flood, they’ve got solid floors, we have waterproof plaster, we’ve moved the electrics up the wall, people can get back into their homes and their businesses very quickly and that we continue to improve our flood warning systems so that, in the event of defences overtopping, people have time to take action and we can save lives.” |
| Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary, announced a national flood resilience review two weeks ago. The review will see the government updating “worst case scenario” planning, consider the future impacts of climate change and carry out a risk assessment of critical infrastructure such as electricity substations. | Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary, announced a national flood resilience review two weeks ago. The review will see the government updating “worst case scenario” planning, consider the future impacts of climate change and carry out a risk assessment of critical infrastructure such as electricity substations. |
| The review will be led by the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Letwin, and include the government’s chief scientist, the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the chief executive of the Environment Agency. | The review will be led by the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Letwin, and include the government’s chief scientist, the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the chief executive of the Environment Agency. |
| Rory Stewart, parliamentary undersecretary of state for Defra, will also be taking on a special floods envoy role across Cumbria and Lancashire coordinating the flood recovery operation across local agencies. | Rory Stewart, parliamentary undersecretary of state for Defra, will also be taking on a special floods envoy role across Cumbria and Lancashire coordinating the flood recovery operation across local agencies. |
| Updated at 9.12am GMT | Updated at 9.12am GMT |
| 8.23am GMT08:23 | 8.23am GMT08:23 |
| It’s five days since the waters began to rise and thousands of people across the north of England have been badly affected by flooding. Many areas are expecting some respite today but the storms are expecting to return on Wednesday. Meanwhile, there is a growing political row over government cuts to the country’s flood defence systems. | It’s five days since the waters began to rise and thousands of people across the north of England have been badly affected by flooding. Many areas are expecting some respite today but the storms are expecting to return on Wednesday. Meanwhile, there is a growing political row over government cuts to the country’s flood defence systems. |
| Here is what we know so far this morning: | Here is what we know so far this morning: |
| • The Environment Agency has 24 severe flood warnings in place for north-east England and three severe flood warnings in place for the north-west. | • The Environment Agency has 24 severe flood warnings in place for north-east England and three severe flood warnings in place for the north-west. |
| • There are almost 200 other flood warnings and alerts in place across the area and other parts, including Wales and the Midlands. Three cities – York, Manchester and Leeds – have been badly affected. | • There are almost 200 other flood warnings and alerts in place across the area and other parts, including Wales and the Midlands. Three cities – York, Manchester and Leeds – have been badly affected. |
| • The worst-hit areas will have some respite from rain today but the crisis looks set to continue as more bad weather sweeps in. Rain will batter the north of England on Wednesday with up to three inches (80mm) falling on high ground and potentially in excess of 4.7ins (120mm) in exposed locations – with most places seeing up to 1.5ins (40mm). | • The worst-hit areas will have some respite from rain today but the crisis looks set to continue as more bad weather sweeps in. Rain will batter the north of England on Wednesday with up to three inches (80mm) falling on high ground and potentially in excess of 4.7ins (120mm) in exposed locations – with most places seeing up to 1.5ins (40mm). |
| • The threat in York appears to be easing. Charlie Croft, from York city council, confirmed that river waters in the city had peaked, telling the BBC: “We have to say that we are still in the middle of a major incident, though tentative positive news is that the river may now have stopped rising at this point.” | • The threat in York appears to be easing. Charlie Croft, from York city council, confirmed that river waters in the city had peaked, telling the BBC: “We have to say that we are still in the middle of a major incident, though tentative positive news is that the river may now have stopped rising at this point.” |
| • David Cameron is expected to visit stricken communities today. The government has pledged to look again at the quality of the UK’s flood defences as home and business owners face up to a miserable start to the new year. | • David Cameron is expected to visit stricken communities today. The government has pledged to look again at the quality of the UK’s flood defences as home and business owners face up to a miserable start to the new year. |
| • Five hundred military troops have been mobilised to aid emergency services, with another 1,000 on standby should the situation worsen. Military personnel were mobilised on Sunday to help people in Yorkshire and Lancashire as they battled to keep rising flood waters from the doors of their homes and businesses. | • Five hundred military troops have been mobilised to aid emergency services, with another 1,000 on standby should the situation worsen. Military personnel were mobilised on Sunday to help people in Yorkshire and Lancashire as they battled to keep rising flood waters from the doors of their homes and businesses. |
| Updated at 9.00am GMT | Updated at 9.00am GMT |