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| Floods prompt Cobra emergency meeting | Floods prompt Cobra emergency meeting |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later to discuss the UK's response to floods. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later to discuss the UK's response to floods. |
| The meeting will bring together agencies responsible for dealing with the flooding which has affected many areas over Christmas and new year. | The meeting will bring together agencies responsible for dealing with the flooding which has affected many areas over Christmas and new year. |
| Dozens of flood warnings are in place in England, Wales and Scotland. | Dozens of flood warnings are in place in England, Wales and Scotland. |
| The Environment Agency has also warned of possible tidal flooding in the south and west of England later this week. | The Environment Agency has also warned of possible tidal flooding in the south and west of England later this week. |
| Mr Paterson said he had chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils "are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities". | Mr Paterson said he had chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils "are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities". |
| "We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said. | "We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said. |
| "With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued." | "With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued." |
| Cobra, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A in Whitehall, brings together ministers, civil servants and others such as the police and Environment Agency - depending on the nature of the emergency it is responding to. | Cobra, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A in Whitehall, brings together ministers, civil servants and others such as the police and Environment Agency - depending on the nature of the emergency it is responding to. |
| Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded. | Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded. |
| Many of the flood warnings on Wednesday - and those issued for Thursday - were in the south west, where Devon and Cornwall Police appealed for people not to enter the sea during the bad weather. | Many of the flood warnings on Wednesday - and those issued for Thursday - were in the south west, where Devon and Cornwall Police appealed for people not to enter the sea during the bad weather. |
| A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing. | A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing. |
| Rescue teams are searching for: | Rescue teams are searching for: |
| Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people - including a baby - were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick. | Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people - including a baby - were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick. |
| Coastal flood risk | Coastal flood risk |
| The Environment Agency said storms expected from Friday to Sunday had the potential to be "a significant weather event". | The Environment Agency said storms expected from Friday to Sunday had the potential to be "a significant weather event". |
| Strong winds and large waves were expected to coincide with high tides, it said. | Strong winds and large waves were expected to coincide with high tides, it said. |
| Craig Woolhouse, from the agency's head of flood management, said flooding could affect "some coastal properties and communities". | Craig Woolhouse, from the agency's head of flood management, said flooding could affect "some coastal properties and communities". |
| "Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea," he added. | "Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea," he added. |
| "People are warned to stay away from the shoreline." | "People are warned to stay away from the shoreline." |
| The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - the lowest of its three levels - for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England. | The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - the lowest of its three levels - for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England. |
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