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Lincolnshire coast storm surge warning leads to Army aid Severe flood warnings: Storm surge preparations made
(about 3 hours later)
About 100 soldiers have been sent to Lincolnshire to help prepare against a predicted storm surge. Preparations are being made ahead of a predicted storm surge in the east of England, as severe flood warnings are put in place by the Environment Agency.
Lincolnshire's chief constable, Neil Rhodes, said evacuation plans had been drawn up with the Army helping police in issuing door-to-door warnings. High tides and gales are expected to bring disruption along the east coast overnight on Thursday and also Friday.
High tides and gales are expected to bring disruption along the coast overnight on Thursday and also Friday. The "severe" categorisation means the agency is warning of "danger to life".
About 100 soldiers have been sent to Lincolnshire to help issue door-to-door warnings, while the Essex village of Jaywick is set to be evacuated.
In a statement about the Jaywick evacuation, Essex's fire service said: "Police officers will be calling at addresses in Jaywick from 4pm this afternoon to advise people that a full evacuation plan will be implemented starting at 7am on Friday."
The east coast was affected by a storm surge in December 2013, with thousands were forced to abandon their homes as tides in parts of the North Sea reached higher levels than the devastating floods of 1953.
At 16:55 GMT, there were three severe warnings in place, all in Essex: from Clacton to Lee Wick - Jaywick is on this stretch of coast - on the River Stour at Mistley, and at West Mersea.
There were also 40 regular flood warnings are in place across England - meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required - with all but one on the east coast.
Communities in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been warned by the agency that they are particularly at risk from the tidal surge, which is expected to peak on Friday.
Lincolnshire Police said the area of most concern in the county was a stretch of coast between Gibraltar Point, near Skegness, and Donna Nook, about 35 miles to the north. About 3,000 properties are being monitored.
The Army said 100 soldiers were being sent from Catterick to Grantham to help police warn the public, while rest centres have been set up in Louth.
Lincolnshire's Chief Constable, Neil Rhodes, said experts did not believe the sea defences would be breached but the authorities were monitoring the situation and he added residents should be aware of the latest updates.
"The peak is about 06:30 GMT on Friday when the tides will be at their highest," he said.
He said he had three key messages to people in the area:
A spokesman for the MoD said: "At the request of the Lincolnshire Police, we have deployed 100 soldiers from A Company, 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment to Skegness to support the police in the precautionary evacuation of residents whose homes may be at risk of flooding.
"These soldiers are from one of the three UK Standby Battalions, held at readiness to respond to UK contingencies and emergencies."
BBC weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker said the northerly direction of the wind was the problem.BBC weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker said the northerly direction of the wind was the problem.
More on this and other Lincolnshire stories "Because they are travelling from north to south they are almost going to be piling up along the coastline of Lincolnshire, down into the Norfolk coast as well," he said.
"Because they are travelling from north to south they are almost going to be piling up along the coastline of Lincolnshire, down into the Norfolk coast as well," said Mr Schafernaker.
"So there will be some really nasty stormy conditions out at sea and some of the waves might even be crashing against the sea defences and overtopping them.""So there will be some really nasty stormy conditions out at sea and some of the waves might even be crashing against the sea defences and overtopping them."
Lincolnshire Police said the area of "most concern" was between Donna Nook in the north and Gibraltar Point in the south, with 3,000 properties being monitored. Humberside Police said the force was "erecting temporary barriers where needed and putting in place some local road closures".
The Army said 100 soldiers were being sent from Catterick to Grantham to help police warn the public.
Mr Rhodes said experts did not believe the sea defences would be breached but the authorities were watching the situation and he added residents should be aware of the latest updates.
"The peak is about 06:30 GMT on Friday when the tides will be at their highest," he said.
Humberside Police said it was also preparing for "potential flooding" on Friday morning.
Ch Insp James Glansfield said: "This activity includes ensuring residents and businesses that are at risk are made aware, erecting temporary barriers where needed and putting in place some local road closures."
The Spurn National Nature Reserve has been closed until further notice because of "inclement weather", the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said.The Spurn National Nature Reserve has been closed until further notice because of "inclement weather", the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said.
The Environment Agency has issued 42 flood alerts across England including 10 in East Yorkshire, six in Lincolnshire and two in North Yorkshire.
The area was affected by a storm surge in December 2013 which saw a number of homes flooded along the coast and in the town of Boston.