This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25254808
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Norfolk floods: Seven Hemsby homes destroyed by waves | Norfolk floods: Seven Hemsby homes destroyed by waves |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Seven cliff-top homes were washed into the sea as the biggest tidal surge in 60 years hit the Norfolk coast. | Seven cliff-top homes were washed into the sea as the biggest tidal surge in 60 years hit the Norfolk coast. |
| The properties were destroyed overnight in Hemsby during storms along the east coast of England. | |
| Ray Mooney, who was inside his home as the storm hit, said: "I heard a crash and whole back part of the floor caved in. Everything went down." | Ray Mooney, who was inside his home as the storm hit, said: "I heard a crash and whole back part of the floor caved in. Everything went down." |
| He said he was assessing the damage but expected the property to be either demolished or washed out to sea. | He said he was assessing the damage but expected the property to be either demolished or washed out to sea. |
| "This is my only asset," he said. "That's it, I haven't got anything else. | "This is my only asset," he said. "That's it, I haven't got anything else. |
| "I had just done the house up to sell but now I have nothing. I'm homeless." | "I had just done the house up to sell but now I have nothing. I'm homeless." |
| Steve Connelly, 54, and his wife Jackie, 64, managed to rescue their three-month-old kittens Tom and Jerry before their home nearby was also destroyed. | Steve Connelly, 54, and his wife Jackie, 64, managed to rescue their three-month-old kittens Tom and Jerry before their home nearby was also destroyed. |
| Mr Connelly, who bought the two-bedroom bungalow in Beach Road, for £59,000, said: "We were in the pub when we heard the cliff was going so rushed to get what we could out." | |
| He said residents formed a chain to help them rescue furniture and some belongings. | He said residents formed a chain to help them rescue furniture and some belongings. |
| "People we've never even met were helping out, it was amazing. | "People we've never even met were helping out, it was amazing. |
| "Suddenly we heard a shout 'it's going, it's going' and we watched our kitchen get ripped apart. The whole house collapsed before our eyes. | "Suddenly we heard a shout 'it's going, it's going' and we watched our kitchen get ripped apart. The whole house collapsed before our eyes. |
| "We're devastated at what we've lost but at least me, Jackie and the kittens are safe." | "We're devastated at what we've lost but at least me, Jackie and the kittens are safe." |
| The land on which the homes stood 30ft (9m) above the shore has been washed into the sea. | The land on which the homes stood 30ft (9m) above the shore has been washed into the sea. |
| The seven families, now homeless, have been given emergency accommodation. | The seven families, now homeless, have been given emergency accommodation. |
| In Cromer, part of the sea wall collapsed and the pier was closed for safety reasons. | |
| Jason Holland, from Cromer Coastguard, warned: "People are putting their lives at risk by trying to get equipment from their beach huts. People should stay away." | |
| Norfolk Police Supt Stuart Gunn warned people to stay away as the huge waves could be carrying boulders or other heavy debris. | Norfolk Police Supt Stuart Gunn warned people to stay away as the huge waves could be carrying boulders or other heavy debris. |
| Much of this had crashed onto Cromer Pier breaking slates on walkways into pieces. | Much of this had crashed onto Cromer Pier breaking slates on walkways into pieces. |
| The Coastwatch station at East Runton had to be abandoned after the cliff on which it stood collapsed. | The Coastwatch station at East Runton had to be abandoned after the cliff on which it stood collapsed. |
| Secretary Ian Arnold said: "All of a sudden the cliff gave way and all that was left was the fence hanging over the waves." | Secretary Ian Arnold said: "All of a sudden the cliff gave way and all that was left was the fence hanging over the waves." |
| Thousands of people spent the night in emergency centres after leaving their homes because of the weather. | Thousands of people spent the night in emergency centres after leaving their homes because of the weather. |
| Waves pounded the coast, bringing down many sections of cliff from Hunstanton in the north west of Norfolk to Hemsby in the south. | Waves pounded the coast, bringing down many sections of cliff from Hunstanton in the north west of Norfolk to Hemsby in the south. |
| Police have advised people to stay where they are as two more peak tides are expected in the next 36 hours. | |
| The power went off on South Quay in Kings Lynn and parts of the town were underwater. | The power went off on South Quay in Kings Lynn and parts of the town were underwater. |
| Firefighters rescued several people from floods in North Norfolk, King's Lynn, Bacton and Walcott. | Firefighters rescued several people from floods in North Norfolk, King's Lynn, Bacton and Walcott. |
| Ch Supt Bob Scully, from Norfolk Police, urged people to stay in emergency centres if their homes had been evacuated. | Ch Supt Bob Scully, from Norfolk Police, urged people to stay in emergency centres if their homes had been evacuated. |
| He also warned people to resist the temptation of visiting flooded areas as they were still "hazardous". | He also warned people to resist the temptation of visiting flooded areas as they were still "hazardous". |
| Many homes have lost electric power because of flooding or high winds bringing down supply cables and engineers have been working to reconnect them where possible. | Many homes have lost electric power because of flooding or high winds bringing down supply cables and engineers have been working to reconnect them where possible. |
| UK Power Networks said: "Where there are pockets of individual homes without power because they have been flooded, our engineers will switch the mains supply on again as soon as it's safely possible. | UK Power Networks said: "Where there are pockets of individual homes without power because they have been flooded, our engineers will switch the mains supply on again as soon as it's safely possible. |
| "But this could take some time as the water needs to recede first. | "But this could take some time as the water needs to recede first. |
| "Some homes may be part of the affected area even if they are not directly flooded." | "Some homes may be part of the affected area even if they are not directly flooded." |
| Elsewhere in Norfolk: |