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Storm Angus: floods hit south-west England – with more rain to come Storm Angus: floods hit south-west England – with more rain to come
(about 3 hours later)
A large swath of south-west Britain is coping with flooding and high winds as another block of torrential rain swept into Britain on the heels of Storm Angus. A swath of south-west Britain is coping with flooding and high winds as another block of torrential rain swept into Britain on the heels of Storm Angus.
The Met Office issued an amber warning – the second highest severe weather alert – for Devon and parts of Somerset, predicting that up to 30mm of rain could fall within just an hour. It also put out a yellow (“be aware”) warning for areas of northern England. The Met Office issued an amber warning – the second highest severe weather alert – for Devon and parts of Somerset, predicting that up to 30mm of rain could fall within an hour. It also released a yellow “be aware” warning for areas of northern England.
By late morning on Monday the Environment Agency (EA) had published seven flood warnings for the south-west, meaning that flooding is expected and immediate action should be taken, and 65 flood alerts – flooding is possible – across England and Wales. By early afternoon on Monday, there were 15 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required – in Devon, Somerset and Dorset. In addition, there were 89 flood alerts (flooding is possible, be prepared) across England and Wales.
It said impacts were likely to include flooding of properties and parts of communities, and “significant disruption” to travel with a number of roads and rail services likely to be affected Impacts were likely to include flooding of properties and parts of communities, the Met Office said, and significant disruption to travel, with a number of roads and rail services likely to be affected.
The EA added: “Across England and Wales localised impacts from river or surface water flooding are possible. Gales and large waves will affect the east Channel coast for a time overnight, giving the potential for soma localised spray and wave overtopping here.” The Environment Agency said: “Across England and Wales localised impacts from river or surface water flooding are possible. Gales and large waves will affect the east Channel coast for a time overnight, giving the potential for soma localised spray and wave overtopping here.”
Among the structures damaged over the weekend was the ancient clapper bridge Tarr Steps on Exmoor in north Devon. The middle part of the bridge, made up of stones weighing up to two tonnes, were washed away. Among the structures damaged over the weekend was the ancient clapper bridge Tarr Steps on Exmoor in north Devon. The middle of the bridge, made up of stones weighing up to two tonnes, were washed away.
The middle section of of tarr steps has gone. Means two moors way and other routes are not possible @PathsENPA @ExmoorNPCs @SomersetCouncil pic.twitter.com/Sry8j8En3IThe middle section of of tarr steps has gone. Means two moors way and other routes are not possible @PathsENPA @ExmoorNPCs @SomersetCouncil pic.twitter.com/Sry8j8En3I
The warnings from the Met Office and EA came as the government was accused of failing to deliver on promises to fund “natural” flood management schemes such as planting trees. The warnings came as the government was accused of failing to deliver on promises to fund “natural” flood management schemes, such as planting trees.
A freedom of information request by the environmental group Friends of the Earth to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) revealed that there was no funding earmarked specifically for natural flood management, despite ministers saying they would fund such measures. A freedom of information request by Friends of the Earth to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed there was no funding earmarked for natural flood management, despite ministers saying they would fund such measures.
Natural flood management schemes aim to slow the movement of water downstream to prevent flooding. This can involve creating water storage such as ponds, planting trees along water courses and restoring rivers to their original meandering path.Natural flood management schemes aim to slow the movement of water downstream to prevent flooding. This can involve creating water storage such as ponds, planting trees along water courses and restoring rivers to their original meandering path.
As the south-west mopped up and braced itself for further disruption, the EA said it was preparing to put up temporary defences “where necessary” and said rivers had been cleared to make sure water could flow freely. As the south-west mopped up and braced itself for further disruption, the Environment Agency said it was preparing to erect temporary defences where necessary and said rivers had been cleared to ensure water could flow freely.
Motorists were warned not to drive through flood water and residents in at-risk areas have been advised to contact their local councils for sandbags to protect their homes.Motorists were warned not to drive through flood water and residents in at-risk areas have been advised to contact their local councils for sandbags to protect their homes.
A spokesman for Network Rail said the line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon had been closed due to “heavy flooding”. Trains between Cardiff and London Paddington have been cancelled and diversions are in place on other routes, he added. More than a dozen schools in Devon were closed. The headteacher of Otterton primary in the east of the county, Carron Saunders, said she felt she had to close the school when it was in danger of being cut off. “Only one road is open,” she said: “The other routes in are cut off.”
Residents in Bristol were shocked as deep flood water trapped cars in Whitchurch Lane. Lee Gitsham, 43, set off for work as an office supply manager at 8am, only to be confronted by water up to a metre deep that had left several cars partly submerged. Dozens of roads in Devon were impassable due to flood water. The A399 at Brayford was closed for a while after power cables were brought down.
A spokesman for Network Rail said the line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon had been closed due to heavy flooding. Trains between Cardiff and London Paddington were cancelled and diversions in place on other routes, he said.
Residents in Bristol were shocked as flood water trapped cars in Whitchurch Lane. Office supply manager Lee Gitsham, 43, set off for work at 8am, only to be confronted by water so deep that several cars were partly submerged.
He said: “I had to go through an alternative route because the bottom of the road was flooded. Parked cars were submerged in water. There were two drivers who tried to get through but got stuck. It was at wing mirror level so it must have been about 2ft-3ft of water.He said: “I had to go through an alternative route because the bottom of the road was flooded. Parked cars were submerged in water. There were two drivers who tried to get through but got stuck. It was at wing mirror level so it must have been about 2ft-3ft of water.
“I have lived in that area for nearly 10 years. I have never seen it as bad as that. We have had a bit of flooding where the water has covered the pavement but never where it covered car bonnets.”“I have lived in that area for nearly 10 years. I have never seen it as bad as that. We have had a bit of flooding where the water has covered the pavement but never where it covered car bonnets.”
The flood warnings for Monday included the river Mole and North Molton and South Molton in Devon, where residents had to be evacuated over the weekend when floodwater poured into the Mill on the Mole residential park. The flood warnings for Monday included the river Mole, and North Molton and South Molton in Devon.
People evacuated from the chalets were looked after at a reception centre set up at South Molton Community College. Householders also had to leave homes that were flooded in Braunton and Exeter. River Mole at South Molton pic.twitter.com/9l0vAmJOak
There were hold-ups on motorways on Monday morning with visibility reduced to a few metres at times by the rain. On Sunday, rail passengers in Devon were delayed for several hours as water lapped up on to tracks. Staff were clearing up at the Mill on the Mole residential park on Monday. Manager Stephen Antram said eight people were evacuated over the weekend but all were back at home on Monday. “It was quite a mess. We had debris and mud and rubbish all over the place to sort out. The community has been brilliant. People came down to see if they could help.”
Alison Baptiste, national flood duty manager at the EA, said: “Large parts of southern England have already experienced the impacts of Storm Angus this weekend. With more heavy rain on its way, people in the north and south-west need to be prepared for the risk of flooding. Devon floods - Stephen Antram clearing up at Mill on the Mole residential park. pic.twitter.com/B3YMZFkDMs
“Environment Agency teams have been out working through the night and we are now preparing for further flooding as rain continues over the next couple of days. Environment Agency teams will clear blockages in rivers, continue to issue flood warnings and may operate flood gates and sea defences.” Owner Mike Vowles said he had been to meetings where officials had discussed ways of trying to do work further upstream to try to stop the River Mole flooding.
Storm Angus, the first named storm of the season, which had reached the North Sea by about midday on Sunday, brought gusts of more than 80mph and caused power cuts for more than 1,000 homes in the south-west. “We last flooded in 2012. There was lot of talk about what to do but I think it was mostly just talk rather than action,” said Vowles. “But the Environment Agency does have a problem. These seem to be very localised events. It’s us today but it could be somewhere else next week and they haven’t got money to sort out every river, every stream in the country. I understand that.”
Eleven crew members had to be rescued from a cargo ship after it crashed into a stone barge off the coast of Dover and began taking on water. The other 12 remained on board as they worked alongsidecoastguards to bring the ship into port.
Issuing its amber warning for Devon and Somerset, the Met Office said: “A further broad area of heavy, persistent rain will move northwards across south-west England. Although the more persistent rain should clear from Devon by early afternoon, heavy and possibly thundery showers are likely to follow.Issuing its amber warning for Devon and Somerset, the Met Office said: “A further broad area of heavy, persistent rain will move northwards across south-west England. Although the more persistent rain should clear from Devon by early afternoon, heavy and possibly thundery showers are likely to follow.
“Please be prepared for disruption to transport due to localised flooding, whilst flooding of homes and businesses is also possible.“Please be prepared for disruption to transport due to localised flooding, whilst flooding of homes and businesses is also possible.
“Some 20-30mm of rain is expected fall in a three-to-six-hour period in places, and a low risk of this falling in one-to-two hours. There could be as much as 40-60mm possible locally through the whole of Monday. The ground has been left very wet from Saturday night’s rain and this increases the risk of further flooding.”“Some 20-30mm of rain is expected fall in a three-to-six-hour period in places, and a low risk of this falling in one-to-two hours. There could be as much as 40-60mm possible locally through the whole of Monday. The ground has been left very wet from Saturday night’s rain and this increases the risk of further flooding.”
The EA said the flooding risk could continue into Tuesday but by Wednesday drier weather was expected. The Environment Agency said the flooding risk could continue into Tuesday but by Wednesday drier weather was expected.