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Posted

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

A flood expert told Sky News unless swift action is taken "we could have a significant number of deaths", as evacuations from the areas at risk began.

Tidal surge could cause flooding

 

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".

 

Environment Agency chief executive, 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."

 

Eight severe flood warnings have been announced across East Anglia, the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth. Police evacuations have begun in the latter.

 

Norfolk Police Anne Campbell told Sky News: "We have taken the decision to evacuate some of the most honourable people in the Great Yarmouth area ahead of this expected high water early tomorrow morning."

 

There are a further 10 flood warnings of lesser severity and 24 flood watches across the region.

 

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has 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."

 

Sky News weather presenter Francis Wilson said: "Some time in the small hours of tomorrow morning, exceptionally high waves in that area could cause the flooding the Environment Minister was talking about.

The east coast is threatened

 

"The highest surges will hit Rotterdam tomorrow morning. But some high waves are expected at the time of spring tide, tomorrow morning, along the Norfolk/Suffolk coast and probably into the Essex and Kent coasts."

 

The Environment Agency earlier announced that the Dartford Creek and Thames barriers was due to close at approximately 12pm tonight for at least five hours, to cope with the expected 5ft (1.5m) surge above normal sea levels.

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In 1953, scores of people lost their lives to a similar tidal surge.

 

Prof Green said: "This is as bad, potentially as the flood in 1953, during which we had no warning system. We want to avoid those casualties."

 

:: A spokesman for the Environment Agency advised worried homeowners to call the floodline on 0845 988 1188.

 

:: Norfolk police authority and Suffolk police authority are both issuing updated flooding advice on their websites.

Posted

Didn't the 1953 surge pretty much flood half of Holland?

 

Good thing I live pretty much slap bang in the middle of the country.

Posted
Oof, stuff like this always makes me glad of where i live, yorkshire, up in the hills.

 

i hear ya brother:heh:

 

"The highest surges will hit Rotterdam tomorrow morning. But some high waves are expected at the time of spring tide, tomorrow morning, along the Norfolk/Suffolk coast and probably into the Essex and Kent coasts"

 

so that means that all the snobs will get there 50grand cars and million pound houses fixed straight away, yet it took like 3 months for the people in the northen flooding earlier this year to get their floors back, pfft i hope they do get hit, they need bringing back down to earth if ya ask me

Posted
Mcoy lives in Norfolk but is safe, or so he thought? *dun dun dun*

 

Mcoy better run before the floods come and get him.

 

Anywho, this is quite a serious situation. Hopefully this time no-one looses their lives like in 1953.

 

It does make me feel safer as i live quite a distance west of Norfolk.

Posted

Pah, you guys down south have no idea what bad weather is.

 

If you guys get the wind we had today + water = ho ho! Crazy.

Posted
Pah, you guys down south have no idea what bad weather is.

 

If you guys get the wind we had today + water = ho ho! Crazy.

 

pfff. I lived through THE GREAT STORM OF EIGHTYSEVEN! I knew bad weather down south, boyo. Seaside town = sea winds, sea mist, sea hell.

 

... Ok so maybe hella worse off in the north sea and shit. But I think you foo' to think the south is all creamy meadows and rabbits singing as the sun shines ;)

Posted

*wins in Scotland*

 

*wins in Edinburgh*

 

*wins since despite him being literally a 2 minute walk from the sea, he lives up a hill, so the water will have to take longer to get up, giving him more time to escape*

 

---

 

:( I hate global warming and the end of the world in general.

Posted
Pah, you guys down south have no idea what bad weather is.

 

If you guys get the wind we had today + water = ho ho! Crazy.

 

Liverpool docks on windy day = walking backwards and getting wet

Posted
Pah, you guys down south have no idea what bad weather is.

 

If you guys get the wind we had today + water = ho ho! Crazy.

 

I may live down South, but I have recently returned from Iceland, where I experienced fairly rough weather (to say the least...) on the summit of Eldfell, on Heimaey. :indeed:

 

It puts the worst weather I've experienced in Scotland (and I've seen it very, very bad at times) to shame.

Posted

I live right by the Thames barrier which they closed. Nothing happened. The thames has flooded a few times here and has reached as far as the shops across the road. So with all these warnings I at least expected that but nope nothing.

Posted

Ick, this sounds pretty serious. I'm glad I live in the middle of the country, but I still feel really sorry for everyone in the east.

 

Mcoy lives in Norfolk but is safe, or so he thought? *dun dun dun*

 

Get out of there now, evacuate!!

Posted

 

 

:( I hate global warming and the end of the world in general.

 

This happened 50 eyars ago also, nothing to do with global warming, this shit just happens.

Posted
This happened 50 eyars ago also, nothing to do with global warming, this shit just happens.

 

Exactly. My dad reckons the Day After Tomorrow is happening.

Posted
I feel really sorry for everyone who will be affected but...

 

YORKSHIRE FTW!

 

What about East Yorkshire? It's pretty much all flat from the coast to way past Goole...

Posted
What about East Yorkshire? It's pretty much all flat from the coast to way past Goole...

 

Make that West Yorkshire. :D Anyway, the east coast was extremely lucky to avoid this. Germany wasn't as lucky, I saw a clip of an entire town that had been flooded...

Posted

According to our morning paper we had 95mph winds on Thursday. Jesus.

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