Environment Agency warns people to remain vigilant as river levels continue to rise
Severe rainfall has caused major flooding problems for large parts of northern England. According to the Environment Agency website, there were nearly 70 flood warnings as well as 70 flood alerts in place for England and Wales on December 28.
The Environment Agency is advising people across the north of England to check their flood risk, prepare for flooding, particularly if travelling over the Christmas period.
Flooding is expected in York today following prolonged and heavy rainfall on Christmas night and throughout Boxing Day, which has caused river levels to rise. These areas could see further severe impacts from flooding over the coming days. 600 properties in York have been asked to evacuate by the local police force.
Other areas at risk include communities in Lancashire and parts of the River Severn in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire.
Many places have seen record river levels over the past 24 hours, including the River Aire in Leeds, and the rivers Calder and Ribble, affecting places such as Whalley, Hebden Bridge and Ribchester.
Environment Agency teams remain out on the ground 24/7 working closely with emergency services, checking and maintaining flood defences, clearing blockages in watercourses and monitoring river levels. Over the past 2 days temporary defences were set up in Lancashire in St Michaels and Ribchester to reduce the risk of flooding and the the Environment Agency worked with the Army to deploy temporary flood defences and sandbags to communities at risk in Warwick Bridge, Braithwaite and Appleby in Cumbria.
Alison Baptiste, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered serious flooding to their homes and businesses over Christmas and those who face the risk of further flooding over the coming days.
We still have 24 severe flood warnings, meaning a risk to life, in force and river levels in these areas will continue to rise throughout today and tomorrow. People in these communities should continue to check their flood risk, prepare for flooding, follow the advice from emergency services and never risk driving through flood water."
Farming charity Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has sent out 800 food parcels to farming families in need this Christmas.
It is hoped the hampers, worth about £40,000, will bring those in financial difficulty some festive cheer.
Andrew Clark, NFU Director of Policy, said staff in the affected regions are monitoring the situation and offering help and advice to any members who had been affected by the heavy rain and had contacted them.
“We are aware that there are serious flooding problems in parts of the North of England and Wales. This is a fast moving situation and at present we are working to assess the full extent of the damage. Heavy rain falling on top of land that is already saturated from the impact of a succession of winter storms makes flooding more likely.
“The NFU in the regions are monitoring the situation and offering farmers help and advice where they can. It is much too early to say what the full impact of any flooding will be. We will only be able to get an idea of this once the flood waters start to subside and the true impact can be assessed.”
The Met Office confirmed on Christmas Eve that this will be the wettest December on record for Cumbria since records began in 1910. Since the 1 December many areas in Cumbria have experienced more than two and a half times their expected monthly rainfall.
