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Surrey flooding: Further rescues as more storms forecast | Surrey flooding: Further rescues as more storms forecast |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Emergency teams rescued a further 32 people from floods in Surrey during a one-day respite from stormy weather, but the Thames area is again on alert for more rain, police have said. | |
Nearly 900 people have been rescued in the county since Sunday. | Nearly 900 people have been rescued in the county since Sunday. |
More flood barriers have been set up with further storms forecast, Assistant Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said. | More flood barriers have been set up with further storms forecast, Assistant Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said. |
The Environment Agency said river levels had fallen but were expected to respond to rain over the next few days. | The Environment Agency said river levels had fallen but were expected to respond to rain over the next few days. |
Mr Stephens said: "We had a little bit of respite from the weather, but sadly that's not to last." | Mr Stephens said: "We had a little bit of respite from the weather, but sadly that's not to last." |
About 150 officers were on the streets, helping people, he added. | About 150 officers were on the streets, helping people, he added. |
Rest centres were currently empty and people who had left their homes had found places to stay, he said. | Rest centres were currently empty and people who had left their homes had found places to stay, he said. |
'Looting fears' | 'Looting fears' |
More than 50 roads remain closed but people are still driving through them. | More than 50 roads remain closed but people are still driving through them. |
Urging drivers not to use those routes, Mr Stephens said: "Vehicles have driven through road closures, they've caused waves, and they've caused more flood water to go into homes." | Urging drivers not to use those routes, Mr Stephens said: "Vehicles have driven through road closures, they've caused waves, and they've caused more flood water to go into homes." |
After reports of looting on social media, he said there had been reports of suspicious behaviour but he was not aware any crimes had been committed. | |
Mr Stephens also issued a half-term warning to parents not to let children play near flood water, adding it was both a health and an accident hazard. | Mr Stephens also issued a half-term warning to parents not to let children play near flood water, adding it was both a health and an accident hazard. |
David McKnight, from the Environment Agency, said severe flood warnings - the agency's highest level of alert - remained in place for the Thames. | |
He said: "Levels are still at that significant height and we're very concerned about the rainfall forecast for the next few days." | |
'Sandbag waiting list' | |
Two councils have responded to residents' concerns about difficulties in finding sandbags. | |
Surrey County Councillor Denise Saliagopoulos said 20,000 sandbags had been given out. | |
She said requests for sandbags went on a list, with vulnerable people such as the elderly and families with young children helped first, but added: "You're not going to be ignored, they will get to you eventually." | |
Spelthorne Borough Council said it was processing every request for sandbags and toilets and getting them to residents as quickly as possible. | |
It also said the most vulnerable residents - the elderly, infirm, those with young children and those with disabilities - were being treated as top priority. |