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| UK storms: Cameron warns of further flooding | UK storms: Cameron warns of further flooding |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| The Royal Engineers are set to carry out a "rapid inspection" of flood defences over the next five weeks. | |
| 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 15,900 homes are still without power, according to the Energy Networks Association - after almost one million properties were cut off over the last week, and some homes will remain without power on Sunday. | |
| Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, said that there were a further 5,000 troops on "varying levels of notice to move" who would be able to offer their services to help flood-stricken communities. | |
| He also said that the Royal Engineers were going to carrying out a rapid inspection of the nation's flood defences. | |
| "We are going to try and do in five weeks what would be a two year programme of inspection, just to assess the level of damage," he said. | |
| Mr Hammond went on to say that the Government had offered troops to civil authorities "a long while ago". | |
| He said: "What we have done over the last 10 days is push them a bit more aggressively at those civil authorities." | |
| Other developments include: | Other developments include: |
| 'Lines brought down' | 'Lines brought down' |
| On power cuts, 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." | |
| 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 | 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. | 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". | 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. |
| 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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