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Storm Dennis: Flood threat remains after weekend of disruption Storm Dennis: Flood threat remains after weekend of disruption
(about 1 hour later)
Communities across Britain are facing another day of flooding and travel chaos, following the torrential rain brought by Storm Dennis. Communities across Britain are facing another day of flooding and travel chaos following the torrential rain and strong winds brought by Storm Dennis.
More than 300 flood warnings are still in place across the UK, including five severe warnings in England, which mean there is a danger to life. More than 300 flood warnings are in place across the UK, including five severe warnings in England.
Rescue teams worked into the early hours to get stranded residents out of their homes by boat in Worcestershire. Further evacuations from flood-hit areas could be deemed necessary and river levels are set to rise even more.
Environment Secretary George Eustice defended the government's response and said it could not protect every home.
A woman is believed to have died in floodwater near Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire, where residents were evacuated from their homes by boat overnight.
Natural Resources Wales said the scale of the flooding was "unprecedented".Natural Resources Wales said the scale of the flooding was "unprecedented".
Travel continues to be disrupted across the UK, with A-roads closed in Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire in England, and Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales. Roads are also closed in parts of Scotland, including the M90 Friarton Bridge.Travel continues to be disrupted across the UK, with A-roads closed in Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire in England, and Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales. Roads are also closed in parts of Scotland, including the M90 Friarton Bridge.
Train services are affected on lines run by CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Merseyrail, Northern, South Western Railway, Transport for Wales and Scotrail.Train services are affected on lines run by CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Merseyrail, Northern, South Western Railway, Transport for Wales and Scotrail.
The south Wales valleys saw the highest water levels for more than 40 years over the weekend, according to Jeremy Parr, head of flood and risk management at Natural Resources Wales.The south Wales valleys saw the highest water levels for more than 40 years over the weekend, according to Jeremy Parr, head of flood and risk management at Natural Resources Wales.
Several schools have been closed and roads remain blocked by floods and landslips.Several schools have been closed and roads remain blocked by floods and landslips.
In Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, residents were helped from their homes by boat overnight and the county council has warned that more evacuations could be necessary. In Worcestershire, police searching for a woman who was swept away in floodwater near Tenbury Wells said it has become "a recovery rather than a rescue operation".
A relief centre has been set up at the high school in the town, where around 130 properties were evacuated on Sunday. The search was suspended overnight as fast-flowing water made conditions "extremely challenging", chief superintendent Tom Harding of the West Mercia Police said.
In York, the River Ouse has reached 4.36m above its normal level and is expected to rise further. A relief centre for displaced residents has been set up at the high school in the town, where around 130 properties were evacuated on Sunday.
Thousands of sandbags have been placed around vulnerable properties near the river, which the Environment Agency warned could come close to record water levels seen in 2000. The county council has warned that more evacuations could be necessary.
Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC Breakfast that the government has spent £2.5bn on tackling extreme weather conditions since 2015 and has committed to spending £4bn in the next five years. In York, the River Ouse reached 4.41m above its normal level by 11:00 GMT on Monday. The record high was 5.4m in November 2000.
Responding to local criticism of the response to flooding in York, Mr Eustice said £80m has been spent on projects around the city to protect against flooding, and more are "in the planning stage". Thousands of sandbags have been placed around vulnerable properties nearby, but the Environment Agency has said the situation in the city is "improving".
Mr Eustice told BBC Breakfast that the government "can't protect every home" but is stepping up spending.
He said around £2.5bn has been spent on tackling extreme weather conditions since 2015 and £4bn has been allocated for the next five years.
Mr Eustice added that there are 1,000 Environment Agency staff on the ground and he did not think that convening Cobra, the government's emergency committee, was needed "at this point".
Towns along the River Severn - including Shrewsbury, Tewkesbury and Bewdley - are the government's "greatest concern", he said, as water levels are expected to rise further.
The government has activated an emergency funding scheme for areas affected by the flooding, which include parts of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.The government has activated an emergency funding scheme for areas affected by the flooding, which include parts of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Under the Bellwin scheme, local authorities can apply for the government to reimburse non-insurable costs above a certain threshold, which has not been specified.Under the Bellwin scheme, local authorities can apply for the government to reimburse non-insurable costs above a certain threshold, which has not been specified.
A record number of flood warnings and alerts were issued for England on Sunday, according to John Curtin, the Environment Agency's head of floods and coastal management - reaching a combined total of 634 by 06:00 GMT on Monday.A record number of flood warnings and alerts were issued for England on Sunday, according to John Curtin, the Environment Agency's head of floods and coastal management - reaching a combined total of 634 by 06:00 GMT on Monday.
There are also more than 50 flood warnings and alerts in Wales and more than 20 in Scotland.There are also more than 50 flood warnings and alerts in Wales and more than 20 in Scotland.
Severe flood warnings are in place for the River Teme in parts of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire and the River Wye in Herefordshire.Severe flood warnings are in place for the River Teme in parts of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire and the River Wye in Herefordshire.
On Sunday, major incidents were declared in south Wales and parts of England, as parts of the UK were buffeted by wind gusts of more than 90mph.On Sunday, major incidents were declared in south Wales and parts of England, as parts of the UK were buffeted by wind gusts of more than 90mph.
More than a month's worth of rain fell in 48 hours in places.More than a month's worth of rain fell in 48 hours in places.
The situation was said to be "life-threatening" in south Wales, where the Met Office issued a red warning due to heavy rainfall and flooding risk.
Dramatic video footage emerged of a landslide tearing down a mountain in Tylorstown, Rhondda Cynon Taf, south Wales, on Sunday morning.Dramatic video footage emerged of a landslide tearing down a mountain in Tylorstown, Rhondda Cynon Taf, south Wales, on Sunday morning.
Emergency centres were set up for those who were displaced.Emergency centres were set up for those who were displaced.
Also on Sunday:Also on Sunday:
Storm Ciara brought as much as 184mm of rain and gusts reaching 97mph, causing hundreds of homes to be flooded and leaving more than 500,000 people without power.Storm Ciara brought as much as 184mm of rain and gusts reaching 97mph, causing hundreds of homes to be flooded and leaving more than 500,000 people without power.
For more information, check the BBC Weather website and your BBC Local Radio station for regular updates.For more information, check the BBC Weather website and your BBC Local Radio station for regular updates.
Have you been affected by Storm Dennis? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by Storm Dennis? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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