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Suffolk floods: Tidal surge 'worse than 1953' Suffolk floods: Tidal surge 'worse than 1953'
(about 3 hours later)
The tidal surge that hit Suffolk on Thursday night was worse than the one that caused fatal floods in 1953, the Environment Agency said.The tidal surge that hit Suffolk on Thursday night was worse than the one that caused fatal floods in 1953, the Environment Agency said.
Flood waters built up in the early hours and remain in Lowestoft, Southwold and Snape - but in Aldeburgh and Ipswich they receded quickly.Flood waters built up in the early hours and remain in Lowestoft, Southwold and Snape - but in Aldeburgh and Ipswich they receded quickly.
A new surge is expected to hit the coast from about 11:00 GMT.A new surge is expected to hit the coast from about 11:00 GMT.
Severe flood warnings, which indicate a danger to life, remain around Brantham, Mistley, Felixstowe and Ipswich Quay.Severe flood warnings, which indicate a danger to life, remain around Brantham, Mistley, Felixstowe and Ipswich Quay.
Suffolk Assistant Chief Constable Tim Newcombe said: "The comparisons to 1953 are valid, but the big difference is we've had no loss of life and no significant injuries. Suffolk Police's Assistant Chief Constable Tim Newcombe said: "The comparisons to 1953 are valid, but the big difference is we've had no loss of life and no significant injuries.
"We don't expect the tidal surges to be as dramatic at lunchtime on Friday but we do need people to heed the flood warnings. "One of the key things we'll be doing is having a full inspection of sea defences to see if they've been damaged and need to be shored up."
"One of the key things we'll be doing today is having a full inspection of sea defences to see if they've been damaged and need to be shored up." Coast 'still unsafe'
The next surges are not expected to be so extreme, the Environment Agency said.The next surges are not expected to be so extreme, the Environment Agency said.
'Unsafe place to be' Spokesman Simon Barlow said: "We are expecting to downgrade the flood warnings. However, that is not a reason to forget that there is a very big risk out there.
Spokesman Simon Barlow said: "We are expecting to downgrade severe flood warnings, however that is not a reason to forget that there is a very big risk out there.
"Tide levels are still very high and we don't know how our defences have held up.
"The coast is still a very unsafe place to be and there may still be the opportunity for flood defences to fail and for water to enter land."The coast is still a very unsafe place to be and there may still be the opportunity for flood defences to fail and for water to enter land.
"The expectation is that this surge is continuing to drop and by Saturday we will have seen the worst of it.""The expectation is that this surge is continuing to drop and by Saturday we will have seen the worst of it."
The Harbour Inn on the River Blyth at Southwold, which has a history of flooding, was under water again.
Nick Attwell, its landlord, spent Thursday moving furniture and equipment out of the pub.
He said: "I've seen it rush in before, but I've never seen it rush in so quickly and it ended up about 5ft (1.5m) off the ground.
"Gas and electrics were all turned off, but we're going to be knee-high in water again with the next tides.
"We're going to have a massive clear-up operation, but one that we're probably not going to start for a couple of days."
Boat washed away
Further down the coast at the mouth of the River Deben, Felixstowe Ferry hamlet was flooded, damaging wooden homes and sheds and scattering debris around.
Steven Reid, assistant harbour master, said: "You can see by the devastation that the Environment Agency got it right, so good on them.
"It's only material damage and that can be replaced and repaired and nobody lost their lives.
"One 20ft (5m) boat which was resting on the ground was washed out to sea, but we let it go because there was no danger to life."
Many homes have lost electricity because of flooding or high winds bringing down supply cables.Many homes have lost electricity because of flooding or high winds bringing down supply cables.
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."
Bridge Road at Snape and the A12 at Blythburgh remained closed to traffic on Friday lunchtime, while local authority rest centres, for people who have been evacuated from their homes, remain open at Waterlane Leisure Centre, Lowestoft; Kessingland Sports & Social Centre; Carlton Colville Village Hall; Southwold Sports Pavilion; St Felix School, Southwold; Leiston Leisure Centre, Brackenbury Sports Centre, Felixstowe and Maidenhall Sports Centre, Ipswich.