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| Flood crisis operation launched | Flood crisis operation launched |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Residents of flood-hit areas have been told not to panic as a massive emergency operation is launched to get clean water to those left stranded. | Residents of flood-hit areas have been told not to panic as a massive emergency operation is launched to get clean water to those left stranded. |
| Emergency services are battling to deliver supplies to the 350,000 people across Gloucestershire who have been without running water since Sunday. | Emergency services are battling to deliver supplies to the 350,000 people across Gloucestershire who have been without running water since Sunday. |
| Police urged people to stay calm, as there would be enough for everyone. | Police urged people to stay calm, as there would be enough for everyone. |
| Waters have receded in western England, but homeowners near the River Thames in Berkshire are braced for more floods. | Waters have receded in western England, but homeowners near the River Thames in Berkshire are braced for more floods. |
| Emergency services warned the flooding crisis was not over, with thousands of homes still without running water and further flooding expected in southern England. | |
| There are still six severe flood warnings in place, and water levels have yet to peak in the Pangbourne, Purley on Thames and Reading areas of Berkshire. | |
| Bottle deliveries | Bottle deliveries |
| As many as 900 bowsers - mobile water dispensers - will be mobilised in Gloucestershire by Wednesday morning to provide essential supplies. | |
| The Army is also distributing three million bottles of water a day until tap supplies are restored. | |
| Chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council Peter Bungard said: "I'm really, really worried, 350,000 people is hard to imagine, and amongst those are very vulnerable people." | |
| Bottled water is being distributed in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire Floods: At-a-glance Your stories of the floods | |
| Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tim Brain said normal supplies might not be restored for up to 14 days. | |
| "It is important that people continue to conserve their own domestic supplies and do not panic in respect of getting water from the bowsers, or from the bottle treatment centres or from commercial outlets," he said. | "It is important that people continue to conserve their own domestic supplies and do not panic in respect of getting water from the bowsers, or from the bottle treatment centres or from commercial outlets," he said. |
| "If people act calmly and with patience and forbearance, there is sufficient water for everybody." | "If people act calmly and with patience and forbearance, there is sufficient water for everybody." |
| The government said up to 10,000 homes had either been flooded or were at risk of flooding in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. | |
| See map of severe flood warnings | |
| Forecasters said more showers were expected across England throughout the week, with heavy rainfall predicted for Thursday. | Forecasters said more showers were expected across England throughout the week, with heavy rainfall predicted for Thursday. |
| The Environment Agency said the rainfall could result in water levels rising yet again, causing more misery for homes and businesses. | The Environment Agency said the rainfall could result in water levels rising yet again, causing more misery for homes and businesses. |
| Power restored | Power restored |
| As many as 48,000 of homes in Gloucestershire have had electricity supplies restored, after Gloucester's Castlemeads flooded electricity substation was repaired. | |
| ENGLAND FLOODED Gloucestershire has been one of the areas worst affected by the flooding class="" href="/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6913075.stm">Twins die after flood rescue class="" href="/1/hi/england/berkshire/6913023.stm">Berkshire river surge fears class="" href="/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/6913025.stm">Oxfordshire waters stabilise class="" href="/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/6913041.stm">Worcs roads reopening | |
| And Mr Brain praised the "super-human" effort which prevented flood water breaching the walls of another of the city's substations, Walham, which serves 250,000 people. | |
| The fire service and military are still at the Walham site, pumping water into a nearby canal. | The fire service and military are still at the Walham site, pumping water into a nearby canal. |
| Emergency services are also trying to gain access to Tewkesbury's Mythe Water Treatment Works to return water supplies to 350,000 people in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham. | |
| Pumping equipment is being diverted to the water station from the two electricity substations. | Pumping equipment is being diverted to the water station from the two electricity substations. |
| While floodwater levels are dropping, areas in Gloucestershire such as Tewkesbury remain badly flooded. | While floodwater levels are dropping, areas in Gloucestershire such as Tewkesbury remain badly flooded. |
| Water levels in the Thames peaked at Abingdon in Oxfordshire overnight and at Oxford itself early on Tuesday, with residents escaping flooding. | Water levels in the Thames peaked at Abingdon in Oxfordshire overnight and at Oxford itself early on Tuesday, with residents escaping flooding. |
| There are fears several hundred homes could be at risk further along the Thames in Berkshire, which has already been badly affected, and where water levels are not expected to peak until Wednesday. | There are fears several hundred homes could be at risk further along the Thames in Berkshire, which has already been badly affected, and where water levels are not expected to peak until Wednesday. |
| Massive clean-up | Massive clean-up |
| Tim Abbott, spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "We are now expecting the Thames to peak in Pangbourne, Purley and the Reading area in the early hours of tomorrow. There could be flooding of some properties. | Tim Abbott, spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "We are now expecting the Thames to peak in Pangbourne, Purley and the Reading area in the early hours of tomorrow. There could be flooding of some properties. |
| "Levels in Reading, however, are not expected to be anything like what we have had in Oxfordshire." | "Levels in Reading, however, are not expected to be anything like what we have had in Oxfordshire." |
| The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn, two on the Thames, and one on the Ock in Oxfordshire. | The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn, two on the Thames, and one on the Ock in Oxfordshire. |
| The water levels of both the Severn and Thames exceeded in some areas those of devastating floods in 1947. | The water levels of both the Severn and Thames exceeded in some areas those of devastating floods in 1947. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester Send us your experiences | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday morning and attended meetings supervising efforts to save the Walham substation. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday morning and attended meetings supervising efforts to save the Walham substation. |
| At the Cobra meeting the possibility of the floods spreading to London was discussed, as well as different contingency plans for the waters moving east. | At the Cobra meeting the possibility of the floods spreading to London was discussed, as well as different contingency plans for the waters moving east. |
| Parts of Worcestershire are still under water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn. | Parts of Worcestershire are still under water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn. |
| A large-scale clean-up is under way in the county to reopen roads closed after the floods. | A large-scale clean-up is under way in the county to reopen roads closed after the floods. |
| The Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach at least £2bn. | The Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach at least £2bn. |
| Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 | Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 |
| SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to AbingdonThe Great Ouse: Warnings no longer considered severe from Turvey to Sharnbrook | SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to AbingdonThe Great Ouse: Warnings no longer considered severe from Turvey to Sharnbrook |
| Return | Return |
| Have you been affected by the lack of clean water supplies in your area? The BBC would like to hear about your experiences. Please use the form below to send us your details or you can text us on 61124. | Have you been affected by the lack of clean water supplies in your area? The BBC would like to hear about your experiences. Please use the form below to send us your details or you can text us on 61124. |