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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Storm Dennis: Major incidents declared | Storm Dennis: Major incidents declared |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Major incidents have been declared in Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, where Storm Dennis has caused widespread flooding. | Major incidents have been declared in Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, where Storm Dennis has caused widespread flooding. |
| Severe warnings are in place across all three counties, with officials warning of an "immediate risk to life". | |
| One resident said the storm had struck "like a tornado", bursting into her home through specialist flood doors meant to hold the water at bay. | One resident said the storm had struck "like a tornado", bursting into her home through specialist flood doors meant to hold the water at bay. |
| About 130 homes in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, are to be evacuated. | About 130 homes in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, are to be evacuated. |
| West Mercia Police said a man had been rescued near Eastham Bridge on the River Teme in Tenbury. | |
| The force said a number of roads across Worcestershire and Herefordshire were closed. | The force said a number of roads across Worcestershire and Herefordshire were closed. |
| River levels are set to rise again over the next few hours, peaking during the evening. | River levels are set to rise again over the next few hours, peaking during the evening. |
| A relief centre has been set up at a school in Tenbury, and the Environment Agency urged residents to "take extreme care". | |
| Herefordshire Council said: "Please do not put yourself at unnecessary risk - avoid any unnecessary travel and do not enter flood water. | Herefordshire Council said: "Please do not put yourself at unnecessary risk - avoid any unnecessary travel and do not enter flood water. |
| "Please check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable." | "Please check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable." |
| The authority said it was concentrating its efforts "to ensure vulnerable residents are evacuated where needed". | The authority said it was concentrating its efforts "to ensure vulnerable residents are evacuated where needed". |
| Sarah Bridge, from Pontrilas, Herefordshire, said she had suffered "catastrophic" flooding for the second time in four months. | |
| When she moved to her home five years ago, she was told it had only flooded once in 50 years. | |
| Her kitchen, which was due to be refitted on Monday following the previous flood in October, is now "waist deep in water". | |
| The 55-year-old said floodwater "just came straight through" specialist flood doors that had recently been installed. | |
| Ms Bridge said: "Storm Dennis came like a tornado…We had the pumps going trying to pump out as much water as we could but it came up to my knees and it got too dangerous to be there. | |
| "My husband and I retreated upstairs. It's heartbreaking. | |
| "The kitchen is completely flooded, I can hear things floating about downstairs." | |
| Most flood warnings on record | |
| Storm Dennis has caused more than a month's worth of rain to fall across England. | Storm Dennis has caused more than a month's worth of rain to fall across England. |
| John Curtin, from the Environment Agency, tweeted: "We now have the most flood warnings and alerts in force in England than any other day on record." | John Curtin, from the Environment Agency, tweeted: "We now have the most flood warnings and alerts in force in England than any other day on record." |
| He said the conditions left by Storm Ciara had "driven the widespread significant flooding we're seeing". | |
| There are more than 200 flood warnings in place - four of which are severe - and more than 300 flood alerts. | |
| In Hereford, rest centres are being set up at Holmer Leisure Centre, Holmer Road, and Point4, Venns Lane. | In Hereford, rest centres are being set up at Holmer Leisure Centre, Holmer Road, and Point4, Venns Lane. |
| Warnings are in place on the Teme, including for Tenbury Wells and Burford and Eardiston in Worcestershire. | Warnings are in place on the Teme, including for Tenbury Wells and Burford and Eardiston in Worcestershire. |
| These also apply to Little Hereford and Ashford Carbonell near the Herefordshire border and Ludlow in Shropshire. | |
| West Worcestershire Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin said 50 homes were being evacuated. | West Worcestershire Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin said 50 homes were being evacuated. |
| She said on Twitter: "Incident room warning that there will be a higher peak later today. Implement flood plans and avoid unnecessary travel." | She said on Twitter: "Incident room warning that there will be a higher peak later today. Implement flood plans and avoid unnecessary travel." |
| At the scene | |
| By Jen Meierhans, BBC Midlands Today | |
| The centre of Tenbury Wells is under water. | The centre of Tenbury Wells is under water. |
| Cars have been abandoned up to their wheel arches in brown water. | Cars have been abandoned up to their wheel arches in brown water. |
| I've just watched Severn Area Rescue Association taking a boat to collect a family from their flooded house and been on the phone to a woman stranded upstairs in a cottage as water reached the third step of the stairs. | I've just watched Severn Area Rescue Association taking a boat to collect a family from their flooded house and been on the phone to a woman stranded upstairs in a cottage as water reached the third step of the stairs. |
| She doesn't want to leave because she has three cats but she has no power and it's freezing. | She doesn't want to leave because she has three cats but she has no power and it's freezing. |
| Lots of people have told me they think the water looks higher than during the last major flooding in 2007. | Lots of people have told me they think the water looks higher than during the last major flooding in 2007. |
| Some people have come out to take photographs, walk dogs and splash in puddles. | Some people have come out to take photographs, walk dogs and splash in puddles. |
| An emergency relief centre has been set up at the high school. Volunteers have been here since 06:00 inflating air beds and stocking up food supplies for the families expected to be evacuated from their homes when flooding peaks this evening. | |
| Graham Stephens, from the Little Meadow Animal Rescue charity shop in Tenbury's Market Street, said: "All the main streets are covered. You cannot go through it at all. The town's just dead, nobody can get in or out. | |
| "It's going to be like starting from scratch again with the shop, with everything just ruined, but we'll come through it." | "It's going to be like starting from scratch again with the shop, with everything just ruined, but we'll come through it." |
| The town's high school, Ormiston Academy, has been turned into a refuge for people who have had to leave their homes. | |
| Tenbury resident Daniel Hughes said: "I got woken up by neighbours about half four this morning that our car was going under by the hedge out front. | Tenbury resident Daniel Hughes said: "I got woken up by neighbours about half four this morning that our car was going under by the hedge out front. |
| "So [we] had to take it up the high school. The water went up very quick." | "So [we] had to take it up the high school. The water went up very quick." |
| There was "unprecedented" flooding on some of the rivers and streams in Worcestershire, the Environment Agency said. | There was "unprecedented" flooding on some of the rivers and streams in Worcestershire, the Environment Agency said. |
| The Teme is the worst affected and levels are also very high on the Severn and Wye. | The Teme is the worst affected and levels are also very high on the Severn and Wye. |
| All trains run by West Midlands Trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street have been cancelled. | All trains run by West Midlands Trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street have been cancelled. |
| Emergency sand bag stations have been set up in Ironbridge by Telford and Wrekin Council. | Emergency sand bag stations have been set up in Ironbridge by Telford and Wrekin Council. |
| The authority said staff had opened its contact centre to help residents report any flooding issues to "help ease pressure" on the first service. | |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |