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| Somerset flood support: Military planners discussing plan | Somerset flood support: Military planners discussing plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said planning what action could be taken to support people hit by floods in Somerset is ongoing. | |
| Discussions between planners and council officials has been going on since first light, a spokesman said. | |
| On Wednesday Owen Paterson announced amphibious vehicles could be deployed to help flood victims within 24 hours. | On Wednesday Owen Paterson announced amphibious vehicles could be deployed to help flood victims within 24 hours. |
| The MoD said routes that could potentially be used by vehicles were being "reconnoitred" and tested. | The MoD said routes that could potentially be used by vehicles were being "reconnoitred" and tested. |
| Once the routes have been inspected, suggestions will be made on what equipment is needed, the spokesman added. | Once the routes have been inspected, suggestions will be made on what equipment is needed, the spokesman added. |
| Another meeting of Cobra, the government's emergency response committee, will be convened at 17:45 GMT chaired by environment secretary Owen Paterson. | |
| The MoD said the personnel involved in helping with the flooding are a mix from all three services, with the majority being Taunton-based 40 Commando. | |
| "As well as vehicle crews, up to 100 military personnel are standing by for duties likely to include sandbag filling and loading," the MoD said on its Twitter feed. | |
| The Somerset Levels have been badly hit by flooding in recent weeks. | The Somerset Levels have been badly hit by flooding in recent weeks. |
| Villages such as Muchelney have been cut off for almost a month and about 11,500 hectares (28,420 acres) of the Levels are flooded by about 65 million cubic metres of water. | Villages such as Muchelney have been cut off for almost a month and about 11,500 hectares (28,420 acres) of the Levels are flooded by about 65 million cubic metres of water. |
| More heavy rain is expected over the next few days. | More heavy rain is expected over the next few days. |
| Maj Al Robinson from the Royal Engineers, who is assessing how the military can help, said it was too early to say exactly what support would be offered. | Maj Al Robinson from the Royal Engineers, who is assessing how the military can help, said it was too early to say exactly what support would be offered. |
| He said: "At the moment we're concentrating on understanding the situation and very much supporting the planning which the local council are doing. | He said: "At the moment we're concentrating on understanding the situation and very much supporting the planning which the local council are doing. |
| "It's very early days. [We have] literally just been on the ground a couple of hours, and we've yet to report back to see what we actually might be asked to do." | "It's very early days. [We have] literally just been on the ground a couple of hours, and we've yet to report back to see what we actually might be asked to do." |
| Councillor David Hall, deputy leader of Somerset County Council, said: "We've been promised that we'll have access to whatever we need in terms of personnel and military vehicles at very short notice. | Councillor David Hall, deputy leader of Somerset County Council, said: "We've been promised that we'll have access to whatever we need in terms of personnel and military vehicles at very short notice. |
| "What it potentially means is that we will have military personnel to supplement what we are doing already to help people. | "What it potentially means is that we will have military personnel to supplement what we are doing already to help people. |
| "The second biggie - we are expecting more rain, high winds, and potentially some tidal surge problems this weekend so it's very reassuring we are going to have extra support on hand if needed." | "The second biggie - we are expecting more rain, high winds, and potentially some tidal surge problems this weekend so it's very reassuring we are going to have extra support on hand if needed." |
| He said the primary aim was to keep people safe. | He said the primary aim was to keep people safe. |
| "There are a lot of supplementary things, like getting fuel and supplies to people who haven't had access to them," he added. | "There are a lot of supplementary things, like getting fuel and supplies to people who haven't had access to them," he added. |
| "Making sure if people need to come and go, or there are medical emergencies, there is back up for them which will be very helpful." | "Making sure if people need to come and go, or there are medical emergencies, there is back up for them which will be very helpful." |
| David Heath, the Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome, said it was "very welcome news that the military are going to lend a hand". | David Heath, the Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome, said it was "very welcome news that the military are going to lend a hand". |
| "It is simply getting people in and out and goods - if they can give us a few extra pairs of hands to help the people who have been working so hard down on the Levels for the past few weeks. | "It is simply getting people in and out and goods - if they can give us a few extra pairs of hands to help the people who have been working so hard down on the Levels for the past few weeks. |
| "We are expecting another high spring tide at the weekend along with a lot more rain. | "We are expecting another high spring tide at the weekend along with a lot more rain. |
| "Where there is specialist equipment I would certainly like to see the engineers see what they can do to improve access." | "Where there is specialist equipment I would certainly like to see the engineers see what they can do to improve access." |
| MP Maria Eagle, Labour's shadow environment secretary, has criticised the government's response to the flooding. | MP Maria Eagle, Labour's shadow environment secretary, has criticised the government's response to the flooding. |
| She said environment secretary Owen Paterson had "dithered" and "failed to take flooding seriously". | She said environment secretary Owen Paterson had "dithered" and "failed to take flooding seriously". |
| "Almost a week after Somerset County Council declared the flooding a major incident, the government has finally decided to respond," she said. | "Almost a week after Somerset County Council declared the flooding a major incident, the government has finally decided to respond," she said. |
| "Just days after the environment secretary announced that he wanted to see a concrete plan presented to him in six weeks, David Cameron has had enough of Owen Paterson's dithering and called in the army. | "Just days after the environment secretary announced that he wanted to see a concrete plan presented to him in six weeks, David Cameron has had enough of Owen Paterson's dithering and called in the army. |
| "This comes after it was revealed that Owen Paterson chose to ignore a report which clearly warned a year ago that the lack of river maintenance in regions such as Somerset would pose a serious risk of flooding. | "This comes after it was revealed that Owen Paterson chose to ignore a report which clearly warned a year ago that the lack of river maintenance in regions such as Somerset would pose a serious risk of flooding. |
| "It is further evidence of the environment secretary's failure to take flooding seriously." | "It is further evidence of the environment secretary's failure to take flooding seriously." |
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