Severe Flooding in the UK by Friday morning

Flooding 'may put lives at risk'

Severe flood warnings are in place on parts of the east coast of England, with the Environment Agency warning of "extreme danger to life and property".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was chairing an emergency Cobra meeting, as low pressure and strong winds combined to cause a North Sea tidal surge.

Norfolk and Suffolk have seven severe flood warnings. Parts of Kent, Essex, North Yorks and Lincs are on alert.

The Dartford Creek and Thames barriers were set to be closed at 2000 GMT.

The flood alerts are a response to weather and tide patterns being tracked this week by the Environment Agency and the Met Office.

'Gravely concerned'

In a brief Commons statement on Thursday afternoon, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "A tidal surge of up to 3m [10ft] is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with peak high tides.

"There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft, and areas south of this as far as the coast of Kent."

 

The Environment Agency's Simon Hughes said: "We're watching the situation very closely and we're gravely concerned about the scope for some serious flooding."

Wind speeds of about 50mph (80km/h) are predicted, with the storm surge expected to peak early on Friday morning.

There are seven severe flood warnings, nine flood warnings and 24 flood watches nationally, covering North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and the north Kent coast.

The severe warnings in place from Great Yarmouth down to Shingle Street, and on parts of the River Bure and River Yare, carry an Environment Agency alert stating: "Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now."

Suffolk County Council said it was considering whether to order people in vulnerable areas to leave their homes because of possible flooding, while in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, sandbagging preparations were under way.

Tidal Flood Threat To East Coast

 
Updated:20:02, Thursday November 08, 2007

A "major tidal surge" that could lead to disastrous flooding is threatening to hit the east coast over the next 48 hours.


A flood expert has told Sky News unless swift action is taken "we could have a significant number of deaths".

 
The Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told the House of Commons a surge "of up to three metres is making its way down the North Sea".

 
The Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Baroness Young, told Sky News: "A surge wave is expected between 7 and 8 o'clock tomorrow morning, with Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft likely to be the worst hit."

 
Six severe flood warnings have been announced across East Anglia, the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth, along with six further flood warnings of lesser severity and two flood watches in the region.

 
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has tonight chaired a meeting this evening of the Government's Cobra emergency response committee.

 
Concerned homeowners have been advised to contact a prepared floodline (0845 988 1188), to speak to postcode officials who will be using sophisticated mapping systems to assess individuals' danger levels.

 
Professor Philip Green of the Flood Hazard Research Centre told Sky News: "I would recommend that people living behind high defences, particularly in bungalows, do not go to sleep tonight and have you have checked the flood warnings."