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| Brown meets Cumbria flood victims | Brown meets Cumbria flood victims |
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| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has met flood victims in Cumbria after England's wettest day on record swamped homes and swept away bridges. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has met flood victims in Cumbria after England's wettest day on record swamped homes and swept away bridges. |
| He paid tribute to Pc Bill Barker, who died in the floods, and praised rescue teams for their "superb response". | He paid tribute to Pc Bill Barker, who died in the floods, and praised rescue teams for their "superb response". |
| Mr Brown pledged an extra £1m to help affected areas, as hundreds of people spent a second night away from home. | |
| More rain is predicted across much of the UK and there are concerns it will hamper rescue efforts. | More rain is predicted across much of the UK and there are concerns it will hamper rescue efforts. |
| There are 22 flood warnings in force across northern England, Scotland and Wales. | There are 22 flood warnings in force across northern England, Scotland and Wales. |
| The four "severe" warnings are in Cumbria and forecasters predict Saturday will bring up to 30mm (1.2in) of rain and strong winds. | |
BBC weather36-hour forecastForecast published at 1200 BST, 20 November 2009Latest forecast at BBC weather | BBC weather36-hour forecastForecast published at 1200 BST, 20 November 2009Latest forecast at BBC weather |
| The prime minister met members of the emergency services at Penrith police station before heading to Cockermouth, where he spoke to people who had been evacuated from their homes. | The prime minister met members of the emergency services at Penrith police station before heading to Cockermouth, where he spoke to people who had been evacuated from their homes. |
| He expressed his sympathy for their predicament and reassured them everything was being done to help them. | He expressed his sympathy for their predicament and reassured them everything was being done to help them. |
| At the police station in Penrith, he told the emergency services the "whole country" was proud of them. | At the police station in Penrith, he told the emergency services the "whole country" was proud of them. |
| "What you've done in the last few days is tackle one of the greatest rainfalls we've seen in our country and you've done it with such superb organisation," he said. | "What you've done in the last few days is tackle one of the greatest rainfalls we've seen in our country and you've done it with such superb organisation," he said. |
| Community 'not broken' | Community 'not broken' |
| In Cockermouth, 75 people spent the night in emergency centres. As the waters subsided, the devastation became clear, with the town's main street littered with mud and debris. | In Cockermouth, 75 people spent the night in emergency centres. As the waters subsided, the devastation became clear, with the town's main street littered with mud and debris. |
| Council workers, police officers, fire crews, paramedics and the RNLI are stationed in car parks as the town begins the clear-up and braces itself for more downpours. | Council workers, police officers, fire crews, paramedics and the RNLI are stationed in car parks as the town begins the clear-up and braces itself for more downpours. |
| Chief Supt Steve Johnson said the emergency services would carry out a search of 800 premises on Saturday to confirm they are empty or check on the welfare of those who had stayed in their homes. | Chief Supt Steve Johnson said the emergency services would carry out a search of 800 premises on Saturday to confirm they are empty or check on the welfare of those who had stayed in their homes. |
| With 11 bridges in the area still closed because of fast-flowing flood waters, he warned people not to use bridges until they were deemed safe by engineers. | With 11 bridges in the area still closed because of fast-flowing flood waters, he warned people not to use bridges until they were deemed safe by engineers. |
| Walkers have also been asked to avoid the fells, as mountain rescue teams continued to assist in the flood operation. | Walkers have also been asked to avoid the fells, as mountain rescue teams continued to assist in the flood operation. |
| The BBC's reporter in Cockermouth said a bridge in the middle of the town had been closed after it was deemed "extremely dangerous". | The BBC's reporter in Cockermouth said a bridge in the middle of the town had been closed after it was deemed "extremely dangerous". |
| Tony Cunningham, MP for the Workington constituency - which includes Cockermouth - said help was at hand from the government but it may take months for the recovery to be complete. | Tony Cunningham, MP for the Workington constituency - which includes Cockermouth - said help was at hand from the government but it may take months for the recovery to be complete. |
| "There are many broken buildings in Cockermouth, but the people are not broken," he added. | "There are many broken buildings in Cockermouth, but the people are not broken," he added. |
| Less intense downpours | Less intense downpours |
| The prime minister said Pc Bill Barker, who died after a bridge collapsed, was a "very brave and heroic man". | The prime minister said Pc Bill Barker, who died after a bridge collapsed, was a "very brave and heroic man". |
| The 44-year-old was directing motorists off the bridge in Workington when a swollen river caused it to cave in. | The 44-year-old was directing motorists off the bridge in Workington when a swollen river caused it to cave in. |
| Tributes paid to flood death Pc Your stories: Eyewitness accounts Floods: Your pictures | Tributes paid to flood death Pc Your stories: Eyewitness accounts Floods: Your pictures |
| The body of the father-of-four, who would have celebrated his 45th birthday on Saturday, was found on a beach almost 10 miles up the coast at Allonby. | The body of the father-of-four, who would have celebrated his 45th birthday on Saturday, was found on a beach almost 10 miles up the coast at Allonby. |
| His wife Hazel said her husband was "my best friend, my forever friend and an amazing dad". | His wife Hazel said her husband was "my best friend, my forever friend and an amazing dad". |
| Cumbria Constabulary said more than 10,000 people had signed up to a tribute on its Facebook page. | Cumbria Constabulary said more than 10,000 people had signed up to a tribute on its Facebook page. |
| In nearby Cockermouth, where water reached 2.5m (8ft 2in), boats and RAF helicopters rescued more than 200 people after rainfall expected for an entire November fell in one day across west Cumbria. | In nearby Cockermouth, where water reached 2.5m (8ft 2in), boats and RAF helicopters rescued more than 200 people after rainfall expected for an entire November fell in one day across west Cumbria. |
| Forecasters say recovery efforts may be hampered by rain through Saturday but that it is unlikely to cause major problems or get near the record 314.4mm (12.3in) for a 24-hour period recorded at Seathwaite Farm. | Forecasters say recovery efforts may be hampered by rain through Saturday but that it is unlikely to cause major problems or get near the record 314.4mm (12.3in) for a 24-hour period recorded at Seathwaite Farm. |
| The BBC's Liam Dutton said the rain would not be as intense or as lengthy as the downpours in recent days. | The BBC's Liam Dutton said the rain would not be as intense or as lengthy as the downpours in recent days. |
| "It will move through and turn drier thereafter," he said. | "It will move through and turn drier thereafter," he said. |
| It was estimated that 1,300 homes across Cumbria were affected by flooding, with several hundred people displaced and more than 1,000 households left without power. | It was estimated that 1,300 homes across Cumbria were affected by flooding, with several hundred people displaced and more than 1,000 households left without power. |
| FLOOD ADVICE Do not drive unless essentialDo not walk through floodwatersDo not try and unblock drains yourselfLook out for vulnerable friends and neighboursHave torches, waterproofs, water, radios, medication and other essential items at hand in case you cannot get home or need to be evacuated.Take essential items upstairs or to a high point in your propertyListen to the emergency services and evacuate when told toCumbria Police casualty bureau: 0800 0560944 or 0207 1580010Floodline number 0845 988 1188 What to do if floods hit Key local info from BBC Cumbria Environment Agency (England and Wales) Scottish Environment Protection Agency Radio BBC Cumbria The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | FLOOD ADVICE Do not drive unless essentialDo not walk through floodwatersDo not try and unblock drains yourselfLook out for vulnerable friends and neighboursHave torches, waterproofs, water, radios, medication and other essential items at hand in case you cannot get home or need to be evacuated.Take essential items upstairs or to a high point in your propertyListen to the emergency services and evacuate when told toCumbria Police casualty bureau: 0800 0560944 or 0207 1580010Floodline number 0845 988 1188 What to do if floods hit Key local info from BBC Cumbria Environment Agency (England and Wales) Scottish Environment Protection Agency Radio BBC Cumbria The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
| The Environment Agency says the severe flood warnings still in place in Cumbria describe conditions posing a threat of "extreme danger to life and property". | The Environment Agency says the severe flood warnings still in place in Cumbria describe conditions posing a threat of "extreme danger to life and property". |
| As well as the other 13 standard flood warnings, it has issued 32 less serious flood watches across England and Wales. | As well as the other 13 standard flood warnings, it has issued 32 less serious flood watches across England and Wales. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has five flood warnings and 14 flood watches in force. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has five flood warnings and 14 flood watches in force. |
| Drivers have been warned of "treacherous" conditions across much of Dumfries and Galloway where fire crews have been called to rescue a number of stranded motorists. | Drivers have been warned of "treacherous" conditions across much of Dumfries and Galloway where fire crews have been called to rescue a number of stranded motorists. |
| Up to 40 businesses were flooded in Dumfries and about a dozen roads in the surrounding area remain closed. | Up to 40 businesses were flooded in Dumfries and about a dozen roads in the surrounding area remain closed. |
| In north and mid-Wales, roads were closed and train services disrupted, and a brief power cut in Anglesey affected 2,000 homes. | In north and mid-Wales, roads were closed and train services disrupted, and a brief power cut in Anglesey affected 2,000 homes. |
| The flooding in Cumbria is the latest in a series of severe flooding events to hit the UK in recent years. | The flooding in Cumbria is the latest in a series of severe flooding events to hit the UK in recent years. |
| Are you in one of the areas on flood alert? What are conditions like where you are? Send us your comments and pictures. | Are you in one of the areas on flood alert? What are conditions like where you are? Send us your comments and pictures. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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