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| UK storms: Cameron warns of further flooding | UK storms: Cameron warns of further flooding |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Much of England and Wales is in danger of further flooding despite a let-up in the long spell of stormy weather, Prime Minister David Cameron has warned. | Much of England and Wales is in danger of further flooding despite a let-up in the long spell of stormy weather, Prime Minister David Cameron has warned. |
| He said problems were likely to get worse as the volume of rain over recent weeks meant groundwater levels would keep rising in many places. | He said problems were likely to get worse as the volume of rain over recent weeks meant groundwater levels would keep rising in many places. |
| Scores of flood warnings and alerts are still in force. | Scores of flood warnings and alerts are still in force. |
| Engineers have been working through the night to restore power to thousands of homes cut off after the storms. | Engineers have been working through the night to restore power to thousands of homes cut off after the storms. |
| Speaking after a Cobra emergency committee meeting on Saturday evening, Mr Cameron said: "Thankfully, it does appear that we will see less rain and wind over the next few days. | Speaking after a Cobra emergency committee meeting on Saturday evening, Mr Cameron said: "Thankfully, it does appear that we will see less rain and wind over the next few days. |
| "However, after so much rain over recent weeks groundwater levels remain very high and in many places will continue to rise." | "However, after so much rain over recent weeks groundwater levels remain very high and in many places will continue to rise." |
| About 30,000 homes are still without power, according to the Energy Networks Association - after almost one million properties were cut off over the last week. | About 30,000 homes are still without power, according to the Energy Networks Association - after almost one million properties were cut off over the last week. |
| The association's Tim Field warned on Saturday night that some homes would still be without power on Sunday. The association said it would give an update on the situation at 09:30 GMT. | The association's Tim Field warned on Saturday night that some homes would still be without power on Sunday. The association said it would give an update on the situation at 09:30 GMT. |
| Other developments include: | |
| 'Lines brought down' | 'Lines brought down' |
| Energy minister Michael Fallon told the BBC: "The agencies are working together now very closely which I think really is the key to it, the military, the police, the local councils and the power companies all doing their best to get to these sites. | Energy minister Michael Fallon told the BBC: "The agencies are working together now very closely which I think really is the key to it, the military, the police, the local councils and the power companies all doing their best to get to these sites. |
| "Sometimes there's water getting into some of the sub stations, more often it is simply lines brought down by the very, very strong winds." | "Sometimes there's water getting into some of the sub stations, more often it is simply lines brought down by the very, very strong winds." |
| He added: "We have not been sitting around in Whitehall agonising over the current state of climate change, we have been dealing with the problems that people are facing at the moment. | He added: "We have not been sitting around in Whitehall agonising over the current state of climate change, we have been dealing with the problems that people are facing at the moment. |
| "Making sure there are enough troops, there are enough power company workers, there are enough sandbags, making sure people have the help they need. | "Making sure there are enough troops, there are enough power company workers, there are enough sandbags, making sure people have the help they need. |
| "There will certainly be time after this to look and see how we can better protect people." | "There will certainly be time after this to look and see how we can better protect people." |
| BBC weather presenter Susan Powell said after sunshine and light winds on Sunday, next week would be unsettled with further spells of rain but not as stormy as recently. | BBC weather presenter Susan Powell said after sunshine and light winds on Sunday, next week would be unsettled with further spells of rain but not as stormy as recently. |
| The Environment Agency has 16 severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in south-east and south-west England | |
| 'Remain vigilant' | 'Remain vigilant' |
| The agency said the Thames Barrier had been closed for a record 16th consecutive time to help lower river levels. | |
| Chief executive Paul Leinster said: "We continue to see the very real and devastating impacts that flooding can have on communities and business. | Chief executive Paul Leinster said: "We continue to see the very real and devastating impacts that flooding can have on communities and business. |
| "Despite an improving forecast the risk of flooding will continue for many communities in southern parts of England over the next few days. | "Despite an improving forecast the risk of flooding will continue for many communities in southern parts of England over the next few days. |
| "We ask people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary." | "We ask people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary." |
| Howard Davidson from the agency added: "We are still closing the Thames Barrier to keep the tide out of west London which helps alleviate the situation. | Howard Davidson from the agency added: "We are still closing the Thames Barrier to keep the tide out of west London which helps alleviate the situation. |
| "The barrier was built in 1980 and 25% of all closures have been in the last two months, which I think is a staggering fact." | "The barrier was built in 1980 and 25% of all closures have been in the last two months, which I think is a staggering fact." |
| In an interview with the Observer, Labour leader Ed Miliband said the events of recent weeks showed climate change was a "national security issue" for the UK. | In an interview with the Observer, Labour leader Ed Miliband said the events of recent weeks showed climate change was a "national security issue" for the UK. |
| He said Labour had warned climate change could destabilise "entire regions of the world" and now Britain's homes, businesses and livelihoods were "under attack". | He said Labour had warned climate change could destabilise "entire regions of the world" and now Britain's homes, businesses and livelihoods were "under attack". |
| "The science is clear. The public know there is a problem. But, because of political division in Westminster, we are sleepwalking into a national security crisis on climate change," he said. | "The science is clear. The public know there is a problem. But, because of political division in Westminster, we are sleepwalking into a national security crisis on climate change," he said. |
| And emergency planning specialist Mike Granatt agreed, telling the BBC that the floods would be a "wake-up call". | |
| He said the extreme weather conditions would "heighten the importance of emergency planning and emergency response". | He said the extreme weather conditions would "heighten the importance of emergency planning and emergency response". |
| Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency | Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency |
| Two people were killed after high winds and heavy rain hit southern England on Friday. | Two people were killed after 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. | Mother-of-three Julie Sillitoe, 49, from north London, died when falling masonry hit her taxi near Holborn Underground station in central London. |
| An 85-year-old man 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 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. |
| He and a woman in her 70s had been airlifted off the vessel but the man later died. | He and a woman in her 70s had been airlifted off the vessel but the man later died. |
| 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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