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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 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 across 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. | |
| 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. | 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 a health hazard. | |
| David McKnight, from the Environment Agency, said severe flood warnings - the agency's highest level of alert - remained in place for the Thames. | 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." | He said: "Levels are still at that significant height and we're very concerned about the rainfall forecast for the next few days." |
| Two councils have responded to residents' concerns about difficulties in finding sandbags. | Two councils have responded to residents' concerns about difficulties in finding sandbags. |
| 'Sandbag waiting list' | |
| Surrey County Councillor Denise Saliagopoulos said 20,000 sandbags had been given out. | 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." | 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. | 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. | It also said the most vulnerable residents - the elderly, infirm, those with young children and those with disabilities - were being treated as top priority. |
| Alex Tribick, Spelthorne Business Forum chairman, was stranded in his home in Shepperton by thigh-deep flood water. | |
| He said he didn't think anyone could have prepared for the "unprecedented" floods, but he had seen several sandbag lorries, with council officials and volunteers working hard to ensure they were evenly distributed "in very trying circumstances". | |
| He said the flooding would have a "massive knock-on effect" on businesses and it would take considerable time for people to recover financially. |