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| UK floods: Army to carry out 'rapid inspection' of defences | UK floods: Army to carry out 'rapid inspection' of defences |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Army is to carry out a "rapid inspection" of the nation's flood defences to assess the damage left by unprecedented flooding. | The Army is to carry out a "rapid inspection" of the nation's flood defences to assess the damage left by unprecedented flooding. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The announcement comes as 15,900 homes remain without power. | The announcement comes as 15,900 homes remain without power. |
| And scores of flood warnings and alerts are still in force across the country. | And scores of flood warnings and alerts are still in force across the country. |
| 'Damage' | 'Damage' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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, 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. | 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 said that the Government had agreed with the Environment Agency that the Royal Engineers would carry out the inspection of 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. |
| It will start on 24 February and around 200 military personnel will be involved. | |
| "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: |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | 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. | "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. | "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 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, James Swinstead of Colchester, Essex, as 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 since criticised the vessel as "badly maintained". | |
| 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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