Miseryville: Thames floods worsen
Evacuations by the Thames as floods continue
RESIDENTS in communities along the river Thames have pleaded with the government to send in the army as river levels continued to rise overnight with more rain forecast for the rest of this week.
Thames Valley Police declared a major incident in east Berkshire, the Environment Agency warned that hundreds of homes and businesses are under threat and many people have already been evacuated from their homes as river gauges recorded the highest water levels since they were installed in the 1980s and ‘90s.
The Environment Agency had 16 severe warnings in place along the river Thames last night, signalling a threat to life.
Earlier in the day the Prime Minister’s spokesman told journalists that David Cameron fully associated himself with Eric Pickles’ apology for the slow response to initial flood warnings, adding that there were lessons to be learnt, particularly around dredging. The political fall-out as a result of the flooding, which has devastated vast swathes of the country, has seen the government heavily criticised after appearing to level blame at the Environment Agency.
Big four accountancy firm Deloitte said yesterday that if the extreme weather continued throughout February the insurance industry could be facing a bill of £500m in claims, adding that flood claims cost on average £30,000 to £40,000.
“Given the mounting insurance losses it is now less likely that premiums will fall in 2014,” said Deloitte’s James Rakow.
Commuters on the capital’s rail network faced long delays last night as some routes were cut off by rising flood water, with major disruptions between London Paddington and Reading after flooding damaged signalling equipment near Maidenhead.
Landslips also caused disruption between Tonbridge and Hastings, affecting trains into Charing Cross and Cannon Street .
SEVERE WARNINGS IN PLACE
● River Thames at Chertsey
● River Thames at Shepperton Green
● Properties closest to the River Thames between Littleton Lane (Shepperton Green) and Shepperton Lock
● River Thames at Hamm Court
● River Thames at Laleham
● River Thames at Staines and Egham
● Properties closest to the River Thames between Runnymede Pleasure Grounds, Staines and Penton Hook
● River Thames at Horton
● River Thames at Wraysbury
● Properties closest to the River Thames at Wraysbury between Old Windsor Weir and Magna Carta Island
● River Thames at Old Windsor
● Properties closest to the River Thames at Old Windsor, from Friday Island to Magna Carta Island
● River Thames at Datchet
Properties closest to the River Thames at Datchet, between Black Potts Bridge and Albert Bridge