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UK storms: Cameron warns of further flooding UK floods: Army to carry out 'rapid inspection' of defences
(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. The Army is to carry out a "rapid inspection" of the nation's flood defences to assess the damage left by unprecedented flooding.
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. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that the inspection - which would normally take two years - would be done over the next five weeks.
Scores of flood warnings and alerts are still in force. The announcement comes as 15,900 homes remain without power.
The Royal Engineers are set to carry out a "rapid inspection" of flood defences over the next five weeks. And scores of flood warnings and alerts are still in force across the country.
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. 'Damage'
"However, after so much rain over recent weeks groundwater levels remain very high and in many places will continue to rise." Forecasters have warned that larges swathes of England and Wales are in danger of further flooding despite a let-up in the long spell of stormy weather.
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. The storms cut off power to almost a million homes in the past week, and engineers are working around the clock to restore to electricity to the remaining homes.
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. Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Mr 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. He said that the Government had agreed with the Environment Agency that the Royal Engineers would carry out the inspection of 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. "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".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."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'
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.
"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 Speaking after a Cobra emergency committee meeting on Saturday evening, Prime Minister, David 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."
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. Howard Davidson from the agency Told the BBC: "We are still closing the Thames Barrier to keep the tide out of west London which helps alleviate the situation.
"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."
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."
Resident Stuart Brill of Egham, Surrey, has only just be able to get back into his house, he said: "Things are looking more positive. I can walk down my street and the water is now at shin level.
"My father drove 80 miles from Somerset to get sandbags to us.
"But it is still emotionally and physically tiring. I've put the heating on and I'm trying to warm through the property, and get back to some sense of normality.
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 AgencyLive 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.
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