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| Village evacuated as floods and heavy rains hit Britain | Village evacuated as floods and heavy rains hit Britain |
| (4 months later) | |
| A Hampshire village is being evacuated amid fears that flood defences could fail and inundate homes as parts of the UK were once again hit by torrential rain and floods. | A Hampshire village is being evacuated amid fears that flood defences could fail and inundate homes as parts of the UK were once again hit by torrential rain and floods. |
| People were being moved from their homes in Wallington, near Fareham, and a severe warning – which means there is a danger to life – was issued by the Environment Agency. The warning read said, "Wallington village next to river Wallington will be evacuated imminently" by the council and emergency services. | People were being moved from their homes in Wallington, near Fareham, and a severe warning – which means there is a danger to life – was issued by the Environment Agency. The warning read said, "Wallington village next to river Wallington will be evacuated imminently" by the council and emergency services. |
| It added: "This is due to a failure in the flood defence around the village. The river is currently just below the top of the defence and cracks have formed in the wall. The river level is very high and will remain so for some time. If the cracks become bigger and the wall fails catastrophically the village will be inundated rapidly. Please taken action now." | It added: "This is due to a failure in the flood defence around the village. The river is currently just below the top of the defence and cracks have formed in the wall. The river level is very high and will remain so for some time. If the cracks become bigger and the wall fails catastrophically the village will be inundated rapidly. Please taken action now." |
| Also in Hampshire, a father and daughter had to swim to safety after their Porsche was engulfed by water. The pair were stranded in a ford in the New Forest after the river Lymington rose rapidly, but they made it the shallows and were helped by a community support officer. | Also in Hampshire, a father and daughter had to swim to safety after their Porsche was engulfed by water. The pair were stranded in a ford in the New Forest after the river Lymington rose rapidly, but they made it the shallows and were helped by a community support officer. |
| Homes and businesses were inundated, roads blocked and trains services disrupted after 40mm of rain fell in 24 hours in some areas of the UK. Firefighters helped pump out homes and emergency workers cleared landslides. | Homes and businesses were inundated, roads blocked and trains services disrupted after 40mm of rain fell in 24 hours in some areas of the UK. Firefighters helped pump out homes and emergency workers cleared landslides. |
| By Thursday afternoon as well as the one severe warning, the Environment Agency had issued 40 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected and immediate action should be taken. More than half were in the south-west of England while there were nine in the Anglian region and seven in the south-east. | By Thursday afternoon as well as the one severe warning, the Environment Agency had issued 40 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected and immediate action should be taken. More than half were in the south-west of England while there were nine in the Anglian region and seven in the south-east. |
| More than 200 alerts – flooding possible – were in place for all regions of England and Wales. A spokesperson said: "Large swaths of southern and south-western England, south-east Wales and the Midlands are being warned to prepare for flooding. | More than 200 alerts – flooding possible – were in place for all regions of England and Wales. A spokesperson said: "Large swaths of southern and south-western England, south-east Wales and the Midlands are being warned to prepare for flooding. |
| Successive bands of heavy rain were moving across England and Wales, and with the ground already saturated, this is likely to lead to property flooding from rivers and surface water as well as disruption to road and rail networks. | Successive bands of heavy rain were moving across England and Wales, and with the ground already saturated, this is likely to lead to property flooding from rivers and surface water as well as disruption to road and rail networks. |
| "Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Northamptonshire are particularly at risk, and people are being urged to sign up to free flood warnings, check their route for disruption before travelling, and not to drive or walk through floodwater." | "Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Northamptonshire are particularly at risk, and people are being urged to sign up to free flood warnings, check their route for disruption before travelling, and not to drive or walk through floodwater." |
| So far most of the flooding appears to have been caused by smaller streams overflowing and the run-off from sodden fields. More serious flooding could follow if the rain continues and larger rivers, still swollen from earlier in the year, top their banks. | So far most of the flooding appears to have been caused by smaller streams overflowing and the run-off from sodden fields. More serious flooding could follow if the rain continues and larger rivers, still swollen from earlier in the year, top their banks. |
| The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for much of England – including London – Wales and Scotland. As during the floods of November, it was Cornwall that first felt the brunt of the bad weather overnight on Thursday. | The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for much of England – including London – Wales and Scotland. As during the floods of November, it was Cornwall that first felt the brunt of the bad weather overnight on Thursday. |
| At Porthallow in Looe in south-east Cornwall, the water was 2ft deep in the centre of the village in the early hours. Firefighters had to pump water out from homes near Launceston, St Austell, Helston and St Keverne. Firefighters also attended a landslip at Ponts Mill, Tywardreath, near Fowey. | At Porthallow in Looe in south-east Cornwall, the water was 2ft deep in the centre of the village in the early hours. Firefighters had to pump water out from homes near Launceston, St Austell, Helston and St Keverne. Firefighters also attended a landslip at Ponts Mill, Tywardreath, near Fowey. |
| Cornwall council had more than 100 staff out helping emergency services and Environment Agency workers deal with the floods. A council spokesman said individual properties were being affected this time so far rather than communities. He said the problem was that rain was falling on ground already saturated from the downpours of November and earlier this year. "The water has got nowhere to go," he said. | Cornwall council had more than 100 staff out helping emergency services and Environment Agency workers deal with the floods. A council spokesman said individual properties were being affected this time so far rather than communities. He said the problem was that rain was falling on ground already saturated from the downpours of November and earlier this year. "The water has got nowhere to go," he said. |
| In Devon, the county council urged motorists to take extra care. Councillor Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "It is really important that we are all alert to the potential of surface water and residual flooding this morning, particularly in areas where the ground is already saturated and on minor roads where problems may not be brought to our attention straight away. | In Devon, the county council urged motorists to take extra care. Councillor Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "It is really important that we are all alert to the potential of surface water and residual flooding this morning, particularly in areas where the ground is already saturated and on minor roads where problems may not be brought to our attention straight away. |
| "I would advise everyone to be cautious when travelling especially in the dark. In particular, don't drive too fast, and avoid driving through flood water. There are likely to be many potholes underneath surface water which present a hidden danger so drivers need to be aware of those and also of increased breaking distances." Hampshire firefighters rescued six people stuck in vehicles after driving into floodwater. | "I would advise everyone to be cautious when travelling especially in the dark. In particular, don't drive too fast, and avoid driving through flood water. There are likely to be many potholes underneath surface water which present a hidden danger so drivers need to be aware of those and also of increased breaking distances." Hampshire firefighters rescued six people stuck in vehicles after driving into floodwater. |
| Elsewhere flooding was reported from Dorset and West Sussex through to Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire. In the riverside town of Bewdley, Worcestershire, flood defences were being put up on the banks of the Severn. | Elsewhere flooding was reported from Dorset and West Sussex through to Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire. In the riverside town of Bewdley, Worcestershire, flood defences were being put up on the banks of the Severn. |
| First Great Western was warning of major disruption to all rail services in Devon and Cornwall as well as to services in south Wales and the Bristol area. Trains to Southampton from London were also affected. | First Great Western was warning of major disruption to all rail services in Devon and Cornwall as well as to services in south Wales and the Bristol area. Trains to Southampton from London were also affected. |
| Traffic Scotland said there were problems across the country because the heavy rain, high winds and snow at higher levels. | Traffic Scotland said there were problems across the country because the heavy rain, high winds and snow at higher levels. |
| The rain is expected to clear from the south-west later on Thursday but the next band of rain is due to move on Friday evening and stay across the weekend and into next week. | The rain is expected to clear from the south-west later on Thursday but the next band of rain is due to move on Friday evening and stay across the weekend and into next week. |
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