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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 2 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.
About 14,000 properties remain without power following recent storms. More than 11,000 properties remain without power following recent storms.
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 a wave in the English Channel on Friday has said the vessel was "badly maintained".
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Mr Hammond said the government had agreed with the Environment Agency the Royal Engineers would carry out the inspection of flood defences, starting on 24 February. 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.
About 200 military personnel are expected to be involved.About 200 military personnel are expected to be involved.
Mr Hammond also said the government had offered troops to civil authorities "a long while ago".Mr Hammond also said the government had offered troops to civil authorities "a long while ago".
"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.
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.
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 Environment Agency said: "Following the unprecedented weather of weather in recent weeks, there is a need to inspect all of the nation's 150,000 flood defences across England in record time.
"We will then know the latest state of all our flood infrastructure across the country and highlight those which will need repair."
Some parts of southern England have been flooded for several weeks, and 16 Environment Agency severe flood warnings remain in place - 14 along the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey, and two in the Somerset Levels.
More than 300 lower-level warning 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 14,000 were still cut off.
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.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.
He said Monday would be "cloudy and damp" for most of the UK, with western coasts and hills getting the most rain. 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.
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.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.
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."
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."
Live flood warnings from the Environment AgencyLive flood warnings from the Environment Agency
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.
Almost a million homes in England and Wales have lost electricity after high winds in recent days, and the Energy Networks Association said 11,300 were still cut off.
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.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.
In other developments:
Stuart Brill, who lives in Egham, Surrey, has only just be able to get back into his house.
"Things are looking more positive," he said.
"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."
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."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.""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.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. 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 since criticised the vessel as "badly maintained", adding that "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.
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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