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Wales flooding: residents hope to return home Wales flooding: residents hope to return home
(about 2 hours later)
Residents and holidaymakers were hoping to learn whether they can return to their flood-ravaged homes and caravans after spending the night in refuge centres. Residents and holidaymakers are hoping to learn whether they can return to their flood-ravaged homes and caravans after spending the night in refuge centres.
A large-scale rescue operation swung into action after heavy rainfall sent water several feet deep surging through communities in west Wales.A large-scale rescue operation swung into action after heavy rainfall sent water several feet deep surging through communities in west Wales.
Some 150 people were rescued and evacuated to the centres as caravan parks and villages near Aberystwyth were inundated after twice as much rain fell in 24 hours than normally falls in the area in the whole of June. Some 150 people were rescued and taken to the centres as caravan parks and villages near Aberystwyth were inundated. Twice as much rain fell in 24 hours as normally falls in the area in the whole of June.
Police said the overall number who left their homes, including those who did not need to go to the centres, was nearer 1,000.

Senior politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, paid tribute to Royal Air Force helicopter crews, fire service teams, coastguard and RNLI lifeboat crews and the emergency services who ensured there were no serious casualties.		 Police said the overall number who left their homes, including those who did not need to go to the centres, was nearer 1,000.

Senior politicians, including the prime minister, David Cameron, paid tribute to RAF helicopter crews, fire service teams, coastguard and RNLI lifeboat crews and the emergency services who ensured there were no serious casualties.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Mr Cameron offered his full support to all those affected by the extreme weather and passed on his thanks to the dedication of the RAF, lifeboat crews, emergency and other local services who have worked tirelessly to make people safe and keep disruption to a minimum."A Downing Street spokesman said: "Mr Cameron offered his full support to all those affected by the extreme weather and passed on his thanks to the dedication of the RAF, lifeboat crews, emergency and other local services who have worked tirelessly to make people safe and keep disruption to a minimum."
An inshore lifeboat team taking part in relief efforts had to be airlifted when they got into difficulties after helping to pluck a disabled man from a flooded caravan because a Royal Air Force (RAF) helicopter was 20 minutes' flying time away. An inshore lifeboat team taking part in relief efforts had to be airlifted when it got into difficulties after helping to pluck a disabled man from a flooded caravan because an RAF helicopter was 20 minutes' flying time away.
Four holiday camps along the River Lery were evacuated when the swollen waters breached its banks. Four holiday camps along the river Lery were evacuated when the swollen waters breached its banks.
The Secretary of State for Wales said: "This has been a very impressive operation in horrific weather conditions and with unprecedented flood levels. The secretary of state for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, said: "This has been a very impressive operation in horrific weather conditions and with unprecedented flood levels.
"Those involved in the rescue mission at the caravan parks ... have acted quickly and with courage.""Those involved in the rescue mission at the caravan parks ... have acted quickly and with courage."
Dozens of people took refuge in a community centre in Talybont and three people were winched away from the Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre by RAF Sea King helicopters. Dozens of people took refuge in a community centre in Talybont and three people were winched away from the Riverside caravan park in Llandre by RAF Sea King helicopters.
Dyfed-Powys Police said three people needed treatment for minor injuries. The alarm was raised in the early hours after more than five inches of rain fell in 24 hours. Dyfed-Powys police said three people needed treatment for minor injuries. The alarm was raised in the early hours after more than five inches of rain fell in 24 hours.
Residents described scenes of devastation and carnage, but the community pulled together to provide food and shelter, and help the more vulnerable.

A Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said emergency services were called at around 3am and there was "a large amount of water and a heavy current" running through Riverside Caravan Park. 		Residents described scenes of devastation and carnage, but the community pulled together to provide food and shelter, and help the more vulnerable.

A Mid and West Wales fire and rescue service spokesman said emergency services were called at around 3am and there was "a large amount of water and a heavy current" running through Riverside caravan park.
Other rescues took place throughout the day at Aberystwyth Holiday Village in Penparcau, Sea Rivers Caravan Park in Ynyslas, Borth and Mill House Caravan Park in Dol-y-Bont, Borth. Other rescues took place throughout the day at Aberystwyth holiday village in Penparcau, Sea Rivers caravan park in Ynyslas and Mill House caravan park in Dol-y-Bont, Borth.
A volunteer RNLI crew, who had launched on to the River Lery after a request from the coastguard, encountered difficulties. A volunteer RNLI crew, who had launched on to the Lery after a request from the coastguard, encountered difficulties.
A spokesman said: "The force of the river current, with the amount of debris in the water, made returning to their original launch site too dangerous and once everyone had been evacuated, the crew decided to secure the lifeboat and were airlifted to safety by helicopter."A spokesman said: "The force of the river current, with the amount of debris in the water, made returning to their original launch site too dangerous and once everyone had been evacuated, the crew decided to secure the lifeboat and were airlifted to safety by helicopter."
Paul Mott, senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said that 81mm (more than three inches) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 7am on Saturday at Trawscoed, Ceredigion, while some areas in that region would have had 150mm (more than six inches) over the same period. Paul Mott, senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said 81mm (more than 3in) of rain fell in the 24 hours to 7am on Saturday at Trawscoed, Ceredigion, while some areas in that region would have had 150mm over the same period.
The average amount of rain for the whole month of June in that area is nearer 70mm (just under three inches). The average amount of rain for the whole month of June in the area is nearer 70mm.
"That's what's caused the problem, all the rainwater has funnelled into the rivers, causing flooding in river valleys," he said."That's what's caused the problem, all the rainwater has funnelled into the rivers, causing flooding in river valleys," he said.
"We've seen the worst of the rainfall in the flood-hit area, with maybe just some showers in the next few days," he said."We've seen the worst of the rainfall in the flood-hit area, with maybe just some showers in the next few days," he said.
"River levels are still pretty high, so there could still be some problems with flooding from the remainder of the rain that has fallen over the last 36 hours, but the lack of significant further rainfall should alleviate the situation.""River levels are still pretty high, so there could still be some problems with flooding from the remainder of the rain that has fallen over the last 36 hours, but the lack of significant further rainfall should alleviate the situation."
Police said a bridge in Talybont and another in the village of Goginan had sustained some damage.Police said a bridge in Talybont and another in the village of Goginan had sustained some damage.
They would need to be inspected and assessed, but were not thought to be in imminent danger of collapse, a spokeswoman said.They would need to be inspected and assessed, but were not thought to be in imminent danger of collapse, a spokeswoman said.