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| UK weather: Emergency service cuts hampering rescue mission, says union boss | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Cuts to emergency services are hampering the flood recovery effort with fewer people and less equipment available for areas desperately in need of help, according to the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union. | Cuts to emergency services are hampering the flood recovery effort with fewer people and less equipment available for areas desperately in need of help, according to the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union. |
| Matt Wrack spoke out on a visit to the flooding command centre in south west England on Friday saying that rescue services “urgently need” more resources to cope. | Matt Wrack spoke out on a visit to the flooding command centre in south west England on Friday saying that rescue services “urgently need” more resources to cope. |
| He said: “Wherever there’s a flood firefighters are doing a fantastic job helping to keep people safe and reduce the damage done to local communities. But our members are reporting that cuts to fire and rescue services are making it very difficult to cope with the demands of such extreme weather. | He said: “Wherever there’s a flood firefighters are doing a fantastic job helping to keep people safe and reduce the damage done to local communities. But our members are reporting that cuts to fire and rescue services are making it very difficult to cope with the demands of such extreme weather. |
| “Shortages of both people and equipment are proving real problems, with some fire services refusing requests to send equipment elsewhere in case it is needed in their own areas. Despite incredible claims that money is no object, fire and rescue services urgently need more resources to cope with such challenging conditions.” | “Shortages of both people and equipment are proving real problems, with some fire services refusing requests to send equipment elsewhere in case it is needed in their own areas. Despite incredible claims that money is no object, fire and rescue services urgently need more resources to cope with such challenging conditions.” |
| The FBU also said that the military involved in the flood efforts did not have enough dry suits, and that in some cases local fire and rescue services had been asked to lend them theirs. | The FBU also said that the military involved in the flood efforts did not have enough dry suits, and that in some cases local fire and rescue services had been asked to lend them theirs. |
| The extreme weather continued to cause havoc on Friday and an elderly man died in hospital after being hit by a fallen tree in Gwynedd, Wales, on Wednesday. Bob Thomas, 77, was with his wife gathering their hens at his home in Caethro, Caernarfon, when the tree fell and hit him. | The extreme weather continued to cause havoc on Friday and an elderly man died in hospital after being hit by a fallen tree in Gwynedd, Wales, on Wednesday. Bob Thomas, 77, was with his wife gathering their hens at his home in Caethro, Caernarfon, when the tree fell and hit him. |
| Further heavy rain has been forecast for flood-hit communities facing more days of misery. Warnings for gale-force winds and snow were put in place as more than 1,000 homes were evacuated in the Thames Valley and west country. | Further heavy rain has been forecast for flood-hit communities facing more days of misery. Warnings for gale-force winds and snow were put in place as more than 1,000 homes were evacuated in the Thames Valley and west country. |
| Ongoing flooding could continue to affect homes, businesses and land for at least another week, the Environment Agency said. Peter Willison told a Whitehall briefing: “We are likely to see more severe flood warnings along the south coast representing the risk from very strong and big waves. We expect levels on slow responding rivers like the Thames, like the Severn, to stay high for a number of days to come. This remains a very live event. I expect we will see further property flooding.” | Ongoing flooding could continue to affect homes, businesses and land for at least another week, the Environment Agency said. Peter Willison told a Whitehall briefing: “We are likely to see more severe flood warnings along the south coast representing the risk from very strong and big waves. We expect levels on slow responding rivers like the Thames, like the Severn, to stay high for a number of days to come. This remains a very live event. I expect we will see further property flooding.” |
| The agency has 17 severe flood warnings - meaning risk to life - in force along the River Thames, the Severn at Gloucester and on the Somerset Levels, and hundreds more flood warnings across England and Wales. | The agency has 17 severe flood warnings - meaning risk to life - in force along the River Thames, the Severn at Gloucester and on the Somerset Levels, and hundreds more flood warnings across England and Wales. |
| Windsor, Maidenhead, parts of Surrey and communities in Buckinghamshire, West Berkshire and Reading are at risk from the Thames, which has seen levels rise to 60-year highs. Severe gales, large waves and high sea levels are threatening coastal flooding on the Dorset coast, while the south coast from Cornwall to East Sussex is also at an increased risk, the Environment Agency said. | Windsor, Maidenhead, parts of Surrey and communities in Buckinghamshire, West Berkshire and Reading are at risk from the Thames, which has seen levels rise to 60-year highs. Severe gales, large waves and high sea levels are threatening coastal flooding on the Dorset coast, while the south coast from Cornwall to East Sussex is also at an increased risk, the Environment Agency said. |
| A large house near the River Thames is surrounded by flood water in Wargrave (Getty Images) Wildlife has also suffered in the storms. Dorset Wildlife Trust said one “devastating storm” washed up over a hundred birds on Chesil Beach and said that severe weather is causing concern for seabirds. After braving strong winds and enormous waves, exhausted and distressed seabirds such as the Razorbill, Fulmar and Shag have been found stranded on Chesil Beach and at Kimmeridge in Dorset. | A large house near the River Thames is surrounded by flood water in Wargrave (Getty Images) Wildlife has also suffered in the storms. Dorset Wildlife Trust said one “devastating storm” washed up over a hundred birds on Chesil Beach and said that severe weather is causing concern for seabirds. After braving strong winds and enormous waves, exhausted and distressed seabirds such as the Razorbill, Fulmar and Shag have been found stranded on Chesil Beach and at Kimmeridge in Dorset. |
| More rainfall expected on Saturday will mean communities in the south west of England, along the Stour and Medway in Kent and along the River Severn in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, face flooding. Saturated ground could also lead to flooding around Croydon, Hambledon, Basingstoke and Lower Farringdon in Hampshire. | More rainfall expected on Saturday will mean communities in the south west of England, along the Stour and Medway in Kent and along the River Severn in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, face flooding. Saturated ground could also lead to flooding around Croydon, Hambledon, Basingstoke and Lower Farringdon in Hampshire. |
| Paul Leinster, chief executive of the EA, said: “People should remain vigilant and take action where necessary. Flood water can be dirty and dangerous and people are advised not to walk, drive or play in it.” | Paul Leinster, chief executive of the EA, said: “People should remain vigilant and take action where necessary. Flood water can be dirty and dangerous and people are advised not to walk, drive or play in it.” |
| The Royal family lent a hand on Friday as the Duke of Cambridge and his brother Prince Harry joined colleagues from the armed forces in helping with the supply of sandbags to defend Datchet, Berkshire. The Queen has also shown her support for Somerset farmers affected by the flooding on the Somerset Levels by contributing feed and bedding from the royal farms at Windsor, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said. | The Royal family lent a hand on Friday as the Duke of Cambridge and his brother Prince Harry joined colleagues from the armed forces in helping with the supply of sandbags to defend Datchet, Berkshire. The Queen has also shown her support for Somerset farmers affected by the flooding on the Somerset Levels by contributing feed and bedding from the royal farms at Windsor, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said. |
| David Cameron said he is “very sorry” for the suffering caused by the extreme weather afflicting large swathes of the country. Visiting Blackpool to view relief efforts, the Prime Minister said: “People need to be reassured that we will do whatever it takes to help people during this very difficult time.” | David Cameron said he is “very sorry” for the suffering caused by the extreme weather afflicting large swathes of the country. Visiting Blackpool to view relief efforts, the Prime Minister said: “People need to be reassured that we will do whatever it takes to help people during this very difficult time.” |