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| Yalding residents get sandbags amid new flooding fears | Yalding residents get sandbags amid new flooding fears |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sandbags have been given to residents in areas of Kent severely affected by flooding over the Christmas period, following more rainfall. | Sandbags have been given to residents in areas of Kent severely affected by flooding over the Christmas period, following more rainfall. |
| Maidstone Borough Council said it had delivered supplies to people in several streets in Yalding and Maidstone. | |
| The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the River Beult at Yalding, which was badly hit by the floods last week, and the lower Medway. | The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the River Beult at Yalding, which was badly hit by the floods last week, and the lower Medway. |
| It said water levels were expected to peak at about 21:00 GMT. | |
| Further flooding | Further flooding |
| In a statement on its website, the Environment Agency said: "River levels are yet to begin to drop on the Medway in Tonbridge. | In a statement on its website, the Environment Agency said: "River levels are yet to begin to drop on the Medway in Tonbridge. |
| "Once they have peaked in Tonbridge we will be able to provide an updated forecast for Yalding, but with current best information we anticipate a continuing rise at Yalding up to midnight. | "Once they have peaked in Tonbridge we will be able to provide an updated forecast for Yalding, but with current best information we anticipate a continuing rise at Yalding up to midnight. |
| "Levels may rise by up to 300mm. Risk to property is currently limited to low lying property closest to the river." | |
| It said more unsettled weather was expected to hit the South East over the next 24 hours, with flooding likely to affect south coast areas due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides starting in the early hours of Friday. | |
| Julia Simpson, regional duty manager, said members of the public should stay away from the coastline, coastal paths and promenades as there was an increased risk of being swept out to sea. | |
| Cobra emergency meeting | |
| Matt Miller, whose home in Yalding was flooded to waist-height over Christmas, said he was expecting to be flooded again. | |
| "I'm on [the Environment Agency's] floodline, and I've had phone calls saying that we will get flooded," he said. | "I'm on [the Environment Agency's] floodline, and I've had phone calls saying that we will get flooded," he said. |
| Mr Miller added that once high tide was reached at Allington, there was nowhere for the water to go. | Mr Miller added that once high tide was reached at Allington, there was nowhere for the water to go. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron was confronted by a flood victim as he visited Yalding on Friday. | Prime Minister David Cameron was confronted by a flood victim as he visited Yalding on Friday. |
| Resident Ericka Olivares criticised the response of the power firms and local authority but the leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, defended the way the crisis had been handled. | Resident Ericka Olivares criticised the response of the power firms and local authority but the leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, defended the way the crisis had been handled. |
| Following his encounter with Ms Olivares, Mr Cameron said the severity of flooding in the area made it difficult to ensure homes were protected, but "we have got to do more and we have got to do better". | Following his encounter with Ms Olivares, Mr Cameron said the severity of flooding in the area made it difficult to ensure homes were protected, but "we have got to do more and we have got to do better". |
| Power was restored to most villagers on Saturday. | Power was restored to most villagers on Saturday. |
| Earlier on Thursday, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which the UK's flood response was discussed. |