This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/05/warning-stay-away-coast-flood-storms-trains-cancelled
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Stay away from the coast': severe flood warnings as storms lash Britain | 'Stay away from the coast': severe flood warnings as storms lash Britain |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The latest in this winter's series of damaging Atlantic storms has lashed Britain, causing fresh travel chaos on the roads and railways, cutting power to thousands of homes, and creating yet more flooding. | The latest in this winter's series of damaging Atlantic storms has lashed Britain, causing fresh travel chaos on the roads and railways, cutting power to thousands of homes, and creating yet more flooding. |
| Winds of more than 90mph, heavy rain and high tides prompted the Environment Agency to issue nine severe flood warnings – meaning danger to life – all in south-west England, from Weymouth in Dorset to Land's End in Cornwall. | Winds of more than 90mph, heavy rain and high tides prompted the Environment Agency to issue nine severe flood warnings – meaning danger to life – all in south-west England, from Weymouth in Dorset to Land's End in Cornwall. |
| It urged the public to "stay away from sea fronts and beaches as conditions represent a significant risk to life". A further 69 flood warnings were in place across the country. Amid criticism of the government's response to the crisis, David Cameron will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee, a job that he had left to the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, this year until now. | It urged the public to "stay away from sea fronts and beaches as conditions represent a significant risk to life". A further 69 flood warnings were in place across the country. Amid criticism of the government's response to the crisis, David Cameron will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee, a job that he had left to the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, this year until now. |
| The Met Office has issued "be prepared" amber warnings for strong winds sweeping across southern England and Wales. | The Met Office has issued "be prepared" amber warnings for strong winds sweeping across southern England and Wales. |
| About 39,000 homes had power restored to them overnight, but 5,000 homes were still without electricity. | About 39,000 homes had power restored to them overnight, but 5,000 homes were still without electricity. |
| A spokesman for Western Power Distribution said about 200 engineers had been working through the night to repair damage caused by debris being blown into overhead lines by strong winds in the south-west. "Over the last 12 hours or so, 44,000 customers in the south-west have been off supply at some point but we have managed to restore it to all but 5,000 homes," he said. "It's an extremely exceptional event. | A spokesman for Western Power Distribution said about 200 engineers had been working through the night to repair damage caused by debris being blown into overhead lines by strong winds in the south-west. "Over the last 12 hours or so, 44,000 customers in the south-west have been off supply at some point but we have managed to restore it to all but 5,000 homes," he said. "It's an extremely exceptional event. |
| "We have new staff being drafted in from nearby to replace our teams this morning. We have a constant approach to this because of the ongoing strong winds." | "We have new staff being drafted in from nearby to replace our teams this morning. We have a constant approach to this because of the ongoing strong winds." |
| In Dawlish, between Exeter and Cornwall, 30 metres of seawall under the coastal railway line collapsed and two people had to be rescued from a car. Devon and Cornwall police warned residents to stay away from coastal areas. "Police would ask anyone planning to travel to Dawlish in order to look at the scene to refrain and allow responders to do everything possible to help local residents," a spokesman said. "People are also asked to stay away from coastal areas where waves may well cause damage to vehicles." | In Dawlish, between Exeter and Cornwall, 30 metres of seawall under the coastal railway line collapsed and two people had to be rescued from a car. Devon and Cornwall police warned residents to stay away from coastal areas. "Police would ask anyone planning to travel to Dawlish in order to look at the scene to refrain and allow responders to do everything possible to help local residents," a spokesman said. "People are also asked to stay away from coastal areas where waves may well cause damage to vehicles." |
| First Great Western has been forced to cancel scores of train services. Branch lines to the Cornish towns of St Ives, Falmouth, Gunnislake and Looe have been suspended, and the flooded road network meant no replacement bus service could be provided. | First Great Western has been forced to cancel scores of train services. Branch lines to the Cornish towns of St Ives, Falmouth, Gunnislake and Looe have been suspended, and the flooded road network meant no replacement bus service could be provided. |
| No trains were running on the main line between Penzance and Exeter. The company's Twitter feed said Wednesday looked set to be "another challenging day due to the weather". Police in Somerset have warned drivers to stay off the roads if possible. | No trains were running on the main line between Penzance and Exeter. The company's Twitter feed said Wednesday looked set to be "another challenging day due to the weather". Police in Somerset have warned drivers to stay off the roads if possible. |
| The AA warned drivers to watch for debris and water on roads. Traffic Scotland told drivers to be especially careful on bridges. | The AA warned drivers to watch for debris and water on roads. Traffic Scotland told drivers to be especially careful on bridges. |
| A forecaster at the Met Office said the winds in the south-west were likely to "continue along a similar sort of strength" into Wednesday, and people could expect weather in other areas to be "much the same". | |
| "The band of rain which is moving across from the south-west will continue its journey north-eastwards during the course of the night, with fragmented outbreaks of rain – still pretty heavy – following on behind. | "The band of rain which is moving across from the south-west will continue its journey north-eastwards during the course of the night, with fragmented outbreaks of rain – still pretty heavy – following on behind. |
| "It will continue to be very windy. We can expect to see gusts of 60mph-70mph quite widely across parts of south Wales, Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset." | "It will continue to be very windy. We can expect to see gusts of 60mph-70mph quite widely across parts of south Wales, Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset." |
| Wind speeds of more than 90mph were recorded in the Isles of Scilly. | Wind speeds of more than 90mph were recorded in the Isles of Scilly. |
| Residents have been evacuated from 30 flooded houses in Kingsand, Cornwall, and the Tamar coastguard rescue team said it helped "a number of people". | Residents have been evacuated from 30 flooded houses in Kingsand, Cornwall, and the Tamar coastguard rescue team said it helped "a number of people". |
| In Looe, there have been further reports of flooding and people have been advised to stay away from the seafront. | In Looe, there have been further reports of flooding and people have been advised to stay away from the seafront. |
| David Colmer, the Brixham coastguard watch manager, said: "As we have severe gale storm force winds, high tides and heavy rain, HM Coastguard is urging people to stay away from the coast. | David Colmer, the Brixham coastguard watch manager, said: "As we have severe gale storm force winds, high tides and heavy rain, HM Coastguard is urging people to stay away from the coast. |
| "In this part of the country, conditions on the sea and along the coast are currently extremely treacherous. HM Coastguard's advice is simple: don't take risks by straying too close to cliff edges or breaking waves and please stay out of flood water. But if you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the coastguard." | "In this part of the country, conditions on the sea and along the coast are currently extremely treacherous. HM Coastguard's advice is simple: don't take risks by straying too close to cliff edges or breaking waves and please stay out of flood water. But if you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the coastguard." |
| There was further damage to the 148-year-old, Grade-I listed West Pier in Brighton overnight as high winds and stormy seas caused a significant section of the pavilion island skeleton to collapse. | There was further damage to the 148-year-old, Grade-I listed West Pier in Brighton overnight as high winds and stormy seas caused a significant section of the pavilion island skeleton to collapse. |