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UK floods: Army to carry out 'rapid inspection' of defences UK floods: Army to carry out 'rapid inspection' of defences
(about 3 hours later)
The Army is to carry out a "rapid inspection" of England's flood defences within five weeks to assess the damage left by unprecedented flooding.The Army is to carry out a "rapid inspection" of England's flood defences within five weeks to assess the damage left by unprecedented flooding.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the work would normally take two years. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the work would normally take two years. He also said in future the military might step in sooner.
More than 8,500 properties remain without power following recent storms. David Cameron said the floods had been a "tragedy for all those affected".
The widow of a cruise ship passenger who died when it was hit by a wave in the English Channel on Friday has said the vessel was "badly maintained". The widow of a cruise ship passenger who died when it was hit by storms said the vessel was "badly maintained".
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Mr Hammond said the government had agreed with the Environment Agency that the Royal Engineers would carry out the inspection of flood defences, starting on 24 February. More than 7,000 properties in England and Wales are currently without power after the high winds in recent days.
About 200 military personnel are expected to be involved. Mr Hammond told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the government had agreed with the Environment Agency the Royal Engineers would carry out the inspection of flood defences, starting on 24 February, with about 200 military personnel expected to be involved in the assessment.
Mr Hammond also said the government had offered troops to civil authorities "a long while ago". Mr Hammond said the government had offered troops to civil authorities "a long while ago" but he said it would involve the military earlier in the process in future and would be more "aggressive" in urging local authorities to use troops.
"What we have done over the last 10 days is push them a bit more aggressively at those civil authorities," he said."What we have done over the last 10 days is push them a bit more aggressively at those civil authorities," he said.
He said sending military liaison officers to local "gold commands" - meetings of public bodies such as councils and the fire service, led by the police - had been a "major step forward".He said sending military liaison officers to local "gold commands" - meetings of public bodies such as councils and the fire service, led by the police - had been a "major step forward".
"I think probably we will want to make sure in future that we do that at a very early stage in any emerging problem," he added."I think probably we will want to make sure in future that we do that at a very early stage in any emerging problem," he added.
The Ministry of Defence said rules had changed since the start of the flooding so councils could now recoup 100% of costs if they call in the military. The Ministry of Defence said rules had changed since the start of the flooding so councils could now recoup all costs if they call in the military.
More than 3,000 military personnel have joined flood relief efforts, and Mr Hammond said another 5,000 were on "varying levels of notice" to help flood-stricken communities.More than 3,000 military personnel have joined flood relief efforts, and Mr Hammond said another 5,000 were on "varying levels of notice" to help flood-stricken communities.
The Welsh government has already carried out a review of its coastal flood defences, which found they had "performed well" in December and January. It said it was spending £4.6m to repair damage done by the storms and support businesses affected.The Welsh government has already carried out a review of its coastal flood defences, which found they had "performed well" in December and January. It said it was spending £4.6m to repair damage done by the storms and support businesses affected.
A local councillor from Berkshire who demanded an Army and police presence to help deal with flooding in Wraysbury said 100 soldiers arrived just hours after Mr Hammond visited the village on Tuesday. Local councillor Colin Rayner, from Berkshire, who asked for army and police help to deal with flooding in Wraysbury said 100 soldiers arrived hours after Mr Hammond visited the village on Tuesday.
Colin Rayner told the BBC he had not been aware the council could request Army support. He told the BBC he had previously not been aware the council could request army support and felt the "civilian authorities had been reluctant to call in the Army".
He said he felt the "civilian authorities had been reluctant to call in the Army".
Nearby Datchet could have been saved from flooding had the Army been called in on the Friday to replace a flood defence wall with sandbags, he said.
Better weatherBetter weather
BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes said Sunday would be largely dry and sunny, with some showers in Northern Ireland and western parts of England and Wales later. Speaking after a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee, the prime minister said he hoped flood prevention work done in recent days would "minimise the number of homes and businesses affected by the latest high water levels".
He said Monday would be "cloudy and damp" for most of the UK, with western coasts and hills getting the most rain. A Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain in south-west England on Monday. Mr Cameron said rain was expected "at times" in the coming days - but "not to the levels we have seen".
The coming week's weather is expected to be "less stormy" than in recent weeks but there would still be some rain - "particularly during the second half of the week", he added. Monday will be "cloudy and damp" for most of the UK, with western coasts and hills getting the most rain, said BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain in south-west England on Monday.
Our forecaster said the coming week's weather would be "less stormy" than recently but there would still be some rain - "particularly during the second half of the week".
Live flood warnings from the Environment AgencyLive flood warnings from the Environment Agency
The Environment Agency said: "Following the unprecedented weather in recent weeks, there is a need to inspect all of the nation's 150,000 flood defences across England in record time." The Environment Agency said the "overall picture" was "starting to improve as river levels stabilise" - but it warned waters could still rise in some areas.
Commenting on the current situation, the agency said the "overall picture" was "starting to improve as river levels stabilise" - but it warned waters could still rise is some areas.
"Despite the improving weather, the Met Office is forecasting further rain on Monday. With the ground already saturated, river levels will respond quickly to further rainfall," it said.
"River levels on the Thames are expected to rise again over the next five days as rainwater from the recent bad weather moves downstream. These levels are not expected to exceed those already seen in recent days."
The agency said levels were rising in Somerset - where 54 pumps were working "around the clock" to remove water.
And in Hampshire, it said it was working with the local authority and military to reduce the risk of flooding from the River Test in Romsey, where there was a "risk of river banks being overtopped".
There are currently 16 severe flood warnings in place - 14 along the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey, and two in the Somerset Levels. More than 300 lower-level warnings and alerts have also been issued.There are currently 16 severe flood warnings in place - 14 along the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey, and two in the Somerset Levels. More than 300 lower-level warnings and alerts have also been issued.
Almost a million homes in England and Wales have lost electricity after high winds in recent days, and the Energy Networks Association said 8,500 were still cut off. The storms continue to cause rail disruption as there are still delays and cancellations on many routes.
The storms caused widespread rail disruption. Some problems have been fixed, but there are still delays and cancellations on many routes.
Speaking after a Cobra emergency committee meeting on Saturday evening, Prime Minister David Cameron said water levels would "continue to rise" in many areas despite drier weather, as rain that has already fallen moves through water systems.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the floods showed climate change was a "national security issue" for the UK.Labour leader Ed Miliband said the floods showed climate change was a "national security issue" for the UK.
"We've got to treat it like any other national security issue," he said. "That means uniting as a country behind a national effort to do more to defend against the floods, to invest in clean energy and to show leadership internationally to persuade other countries to be part of the fight against climate change," he said.
"That means uniting as a country behind a national effort to do more to defend against the floods, to invest in clean energy and to show leadership internationally to persuade other countries to be part of the fight against climate change."
Two people were killed as high winds and heavy rain hit southern England on Friday.Two people were killed as high winds and heavy rain hit southern England on Friday.
Mother-of-three Julie Sillitoe, 49, from north London, died when falling masonry hit her taxi near Holborn Underground station in central London. James Swinstead, 85, of Colchester, Essex, was killed after waves crashed through a window of the cruise ship MS Marco Polo in the English Channel as it headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex.
An 85-year-old man, James Swinstead of Colchester, Essex, was killed after waves crashed through a window of the cruise ship MS Marco Polo in the English Channel as it headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex. His widow Helen has criticised the vessel as "badly maintained", adding "four windows blew" when the wave hit.
His widow Helen has since criticised the vessel as "badly maintained", adding that "four windows blew" when the wave hit.
Cruise operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages refused to comment on Mrs Swinstead's remarks, but said the Marco Polo had undergone "stringent and rigorous surveys" and regular inspections.Cruise operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages refused to comment on Mrs Swinstead's remarks, but said the Marco Polo had undergone "stringent and rigorous surveys" and regular inspections.
Mother-of-three Julie Sillitoe, 49, from north London, died when falling masonry hit her taxi near Holborn Underground station, in central London.
A third storm victim, Bob Thomas, 77, died in hospital on Friday two days after he was hit by a falling tree in his garden in Caernarfon, north-west Wales.A third storm victim, Bob Thomas, 77, died in hospital on Friday two days after he was hit by a falling tree in his garden in Caernarfon, north-west Wales.
Meanwhile, a firefighter based in Staines, Surrey, which has been badly hit by floods, has died on duty.Meanwhile, a firefighter based in Staines, Surrey, which has been badly hit by floods, has died on duty.
Clifford Cox died at the fire station on Saturday night. It is understood he suffered a heart attack.Clifford Cox died at the fire station on Saturday night. It is understood he suffered a heart attack.
Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading UK weather.Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading UK weather.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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