Environment Agency supporting flooded communities and preparing for more rain this weekend
Work is ongoing to support communities coping with flooding caused by Storm Desmond
This news item is not being updated. Read Winter flooding 2015: community support for current information.
Environment Agency teams are also busy checking the condition of flood defences and the position of pumps and temporary flood barriers ahead of wet weather this weekend.
The Environment Agency teams are on the ground giving advice and guidance to families working as part of a multi-agency response. Support is being provided to affected communities in Carlisle, Keswick, Kendal, Cockermouth, Appleby, Glenridding and St. Michaels.
More rain is forecast over the weekend across northern England so the Environment Agency is asking communities to remain vigilant, stay safe and to check flood warnings.
River levels are still high and could respond quickly to further rainfall. Some people may see flooding in local communities over the weekend, where rain falls on ground that’s already saturated. There is an increased flood risk along the River Dee in Cheshire on Friday and from the River Ouse in York throughout the weekend.
At midday on Friday 11 December there are 13 flood warnings and 25 flood alerts. There are no severe flood warnings in force.
The Environment Agency has sent 22 pumps from other parts of the country to Cumbria and Lancashire, and Northumberland, Durham and Tees areas as recovery from the exceptional flooding gets underway. Three of the largest pumps have been sent from Somerset, each one can move 1,000 litres of water per second (or one metric tonne, or 219 gallons of water per second).
Environment Agency staff are out in communities with the emergency services and local authorities, checking and maintaining flood defences, clearing blockages in rivers, monitoring water levels and working with local flood wardens in the areas worst affected. Environment Agency teams have worked with partners to shore up a damaged flood bank in St Michael’s in Lancashire.
Chris Wilding, Environment Agency Flood Duty Manager, said:
Our thoughts are with people and communities who are dealing with flooding, and our teams will continue to offer support as part of a multi-agency response.
We urge people not to take risks by driving through flood water and to sign up to receive the Environment Agency’s free flood warnings ahead of more unsettled weather this weekend.
Rivers levels are high and the ground is saturated after the exceptional rainfall from Storm Desmond and rain this week, so we continue to ask people to remain vigilant with further rainfall expected this weekend.