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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. | Mr Brown pledged an extra £1m to help affected areas, as hundreds of people spent a second night away from home. |
| As floodwaters subside, the full extent of the damage in Cockermouth and Workington has been revealed. | As floodwaters subside, the full extent of the damage in Cockermouth and Workington has been revealed. |
| Some rainfall has resumed across much of the UK and there are concerns it will hamper rescue efforts. | Some rainfall has resumed across much of the UK and there are concerns it will hamper rescue efforts. |
BBC weather36-hour forecastForecast published at 1200 BST, 20 November 2009Latest forecast at BBC weather | |
| There are 23 flood warnings in force across northern England, Scotland and Wales. | There are 23 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 40mm (1.6in) of rain and strong winds. | The four "severe" warnings are in Cumbria and forecasters predict Saturday will bring up to 40mm (1.6in) of rain and strong winds. |
| Chris Eakin surveys the damage to Cockermouth high street | |
| 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' |
| 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. |
| The first pictures of Cockermouth's Main Street show it strewn with debris. Shop windows are smashed and cars dented, illustrating the force of the flood water. | The first pictures of Cockermouth's Main Street show it strewn with debris. Shop windows are smashed and cars dented, illustrating the force of the flood water. |
| ANALYSIS Sarah Mukherjee,Environment correspondent While questions have been raised about the speed of the evacuation, Environment Agency officials say they have worked hard to improve flood defences, but the scale of the water simply overwhelmed them. | ANALYSIS Sarah Mukherjee,Environment correspondent While questions have been raised about the speed of the evacuation, Environment Agency officials say they have worked hard to improve flood defences, but the scale of the water simply overwhelmed them. |
| Engineers say defending homes against this level of flooding would be prohibitably expensive and could completely alter some landscapes. | Engineers say defending homes against this level of flooding would be prohibitably expensive and could completely alter some landscapes. |
| While no scientists would link a specific period of weather to climate change, meteroligists say their predictions do suggest we can expect more periods of extreme rainfall. | While no scientists would link a specific period of weather to climate change, meteroligists say their predictions do suggest we can expect more periods of extreme rainfall. |
| Residents and owners of businesses are yet to see the damage on the street, which is littered with displaced items including sand, bricks, a washing machine and a bike. | Residents and owners of businesses are yet to see the damage on the street, which is littered with displaced items including sand, bricks, a washing machine and a bike. |
| 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. |
| "We're getting a true sight of it now the water has receded and there's a lot of work for people to do. | "We're getting a true sight of it now the water has receded and there's a lot of work for people to do. |
| "It's a slow, methodical search but we want them to be safe before we return them to owners." | "It's a slow, methodical search but we want them to be safe before we return them to owners." |
| Less intense downpours | Less intense downpours |
| All of Cumbria's 1,800 bridges are undergoing new inspections following the record-breaking rainfall. | All of Cumbria's 1,800 bridges are undergoing new inspections following the record-breaking rainfall. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Tributes paid to flood death Pc In pictures: Cumbria aftermath Flood victims face more chaos | Tributes paid to flood death Pc In pictures: Cumbria aftermath Flood victims face more chaos |
| "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. |
| Pc Bill Barker was directing motorists off the bridge in Workington when a swollen river caused it to cave in and he was swept away. | Pc Bill Barker was directing motorists off the bridge in Workington when a swollen river caused it to cave in and he was swept away. |
| 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. |
| FLOOD ADVICE Cumbria 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 href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC Weather 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 33 less serious flood watches across England and Wales. | As well as the other 13 standard flood warnings, it has issued 33 less serious flood watches across England and Wales. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has six flood warnings and 14 flood watches in force. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has six flood warnings and 14 flood watches in force. |
| 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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