Britain is major flood alert today with 115 areas at risk

The army will roll into submerged towns and villages today as 115 areas across UK are on flood alert while desperate families brace for more misery with worse still to come when two week’s rain strikes tomorrow

  • Thirty-five flood warnings still in place across England as people urged to listen to the emergency services 
  • The Met Office is today warning that severe flooding could cut of more areas across the country this week
  • Comes as 100 extra military personnel were drafted in to help with the flooding in flood-ravaged areas  

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The UK is facing major flood alerts as desperate families across the country get set to prepare for more downpours as 115 areas are expected to be hit.

More rain is expected to hit flood-ravaged areas of the country on Thursday, which could last for up to two weeks.

The Met Office is today warning that severe flooding could cut off more areas across the country this week as flooding will continue in both Yorkshire and the east Midlands. 

The forecast comes as 100 extra military personnel were drafted in to help with the flooding in areas such as Fishlake in Doncaster, where many homes and businesses have been submerged.

Thirty-five flood warnings are still in place across England as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people in affected areas to heed the warnings of emergency services.

The map above shows the flood warnings which are in place across the England today as more rain is expected across the country

The south of the country will see sunny spells today while most of the country will experience some rain on Wednesday

The south of the country will see sunny spells today while most of the country will experience some rain on Wednesday

Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire

Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire

The warnings sit alongside a further 80 flood alerts – warning residents to be on alert for possible flooding – after heavy rains over the past week.

The warnings and alerts are in place in locations from Somerset and East Sussex in the South, to as far north as the Lower River Nidd near Harrogate in Yorkshire, and the Holderness Drain in east Yorkshire.

With more widespread rain forecast for Wednesday, Mr Johnson has passed on warnings there could be more flooding across the country this winter as rain continues.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced relief funding would be made available for those affected by the floods.

It came amid criticism the Government had not done enough to help, as the flooding threatened to become an election issue.

The weather maps above show the amount of rain which is expected to fall within 3-4 hours as well as the areas which will be hit

The weather maps above show the amount of rain which is expected to fall within 3-4 hours as well as the areas which will be hit 

He said funding for locals councils to help affected households would be made available to the tune of £500 per eligible household.

Up to £2,500 would be available for small to medium-sized businesses which have suffered severe impacts and which are not covered by insurance.

Mr Johnson also said 100 Armed Forces personnel would be deployed to help the recovery effort in badly-hit areas of South Yorkshire.

The PM chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee Cobra on Tuesday afternoon, as pressure mounted on ministers to take action.

Speaking afterwards, he said the country had to ‘prepare for more floods’ this winter because the ground is so waterlogged.

He said: ‘The worry for me is that there are some people who are continuing not to listen to the advice of the emergency services.

‘I would just say to people – the emergency services do have sound advice. When they advise you to evacuate, you should do so.’

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said the Government’s action was ‘too little, too late’.

‘You can’t trust Boris Johnson to look out for the North or the Midlands or protect our communities from flooding,’ he said.

‘But Labour will provide an extra £5.6 billion in flood defence funding, to level up flood defences over 10 years.

‘Every home ruined and every business destroyed demands we act now.’

It comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn branded the Government’s response as ‘woeful’, while Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said it was not taking it seriously enough.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk