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UK floods: Storm Frank threatens more misery | UK floods: Storm Frank threatens more misery |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A fresh storm threatens to bring more misery to parts of the UK, including areas already hit by severe flooding. | A fresh storm threatens to bring more misery to parts of the UK, including areas already hit by severe flooding. |
Storm Frank is due to sweep in from Tuesday evening, with Cumbria and south and central Scotland at most risk. | Storm Frank is due to sweep in from Tuesday evening, with Cumbria and south and central Scotland at most risk. |
There are already nine severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in England and Wales, mostly centred on York which was flooded on Saturday. | |
David Cameron has defended government spending on flood defences after the devastation across northern England. | David Cameron has defended government spending on flood defences after the devastation across northern England. |
Floods minister Rory Stewart told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the government was open to the idea of an external review being held and expressed concern over Storm Frank. | |
The Environment Agency has said a "complete rethink" of flood defences is needed. | |
Follow the latest live updates on the flooding | |
'Troublemaker' | 'Troublemaker' |
December has seen communities in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire swamped by rising waters and Storm Frank now poses a new threat. | |
The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for rain in Strathclyde; Central, Tayside and Fife; Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders; and North West England for Wednesday. | The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for rain in Strathclyde; Central, Tayside and Fife; Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders; and North West England for Wednesday. |
There are also yellow weather warnings - meaning "be aware" - for rain for the rest of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, North East England and Yorkshire and Humber. | |
At the scene | At the scene |
By Jeremy Cooke, BBC UK Affairs correspondent | By Jeremy Cooke, BBC UK Affairs correspondent |
The good news from the skies above Selby and York is that the flood waters are in retreat. | The good news from the skies above Selby and York is that the flood waters are in retreat. |
The helicopter crew I am with have been flying over these drenched communities for days. And they tell me there is a dramatic difference. I can see traffic and trains moving through York, as its famous minster basks in winter sunshine. | The helicopter crew I am with have been flying over these drenched communities for days. And they tell me there is a dramatic difference. I can see traffic and trains moving through York, as its famous minster basks in winter sunshine. |
But look more closely and you can see some homes and businesses still underwater. And the countryside beyond is still a vast expanse of open water. | But look more closely and you can see some homes and businesses still underwater. And the countryside beyond is still a vast expanse of open water. |
From up here it is hard to imagine that all of this water is not a permanent fixture of the landscape. But of course it will eventually drain away - communities and roads and farmland will reappear. | From up here it is hard to imagine that all of this water is not a permanent fixture of the landscape. But of course it will eventually drain away - communities and roads and farmland will reappear. |
For the people here, what will remain, will be the memories and the images of the great flood of 2015. | For the people here, what will remain, will be the memories and the images of the great flood of 2015. |
BBC weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "The wind and the rain will strengthen during the course of Tuesday, all down to Storm Frank. | BBC weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "The wind and the rain will strengthen during the course of Tuesday, all down to Storm Frank. |
"That's going to be pushing towards the north of the UK but Tuesday night into Wednesday a trailing weather front will be quite a troublemaker, bringing not only destructive winds but also further heavy rain." | |
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency warned Storm Frank could bring further flooding to Scotland. Wales is also bracing itself for more rain. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency warned Storm Frank could bring further flooding to Scotland. Wales is also bracing itself for more rain. |
Further afield, Ireland has also issued weather warnings ahead of the arrival of Storm Frank - two orange and two yellow, both for wind and rain. | Further afield, Ireland has also issued weather warnings ahead of the arrival of Storm Frank - two orange and two yellow, both for wind and rain. |
Mr Stewart also told the BBC he was "very concerned" about the weather forecasts over the next two days. | |
"There's another front coming in, there could be more flooding again so we really need emergency services, voluntary groups, mountain rescue to rest to be ready for what could be a very bad situation Wednesday and Thursday." | |
'Long-term plan' | |
Mr Stewart said the £2.3bn being spent on flood defences over six years would allow the government to take long-term decisions. | Mr Stewart said the £2.3bn being spent on flood defences over six years would allow the government to take long-term decisions. |
"There are going to be different parts of the country where people are going to be pushing for bigger schemes," he said. | "There are going to be different parts of the country where people are going to be pushing for bigger schemes," he said. |
"We have to try to be fair, we're putting a lot of money into this and we're making sure we're spending it in the most cost effective way we can." | "We have to try to be fair, we're putting a lot of money into this and we're making sure we're spending it in the most cost effective way we can." |
The government has ordered a major review of flood prevention strategy. | |
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell also told Today that the issue of flooding should be beyond party politics. | Shadow chancellor John McDonnell also told Today that the issue of flooding should be beyond party politics. |
And he said any review must include the input of experts "who really get down on the ground, talking to council leaders and local communities". | And he said any review must include the input of experts "who really get down on the ground, talking to council leaders and local communities". |
He added: "We come up with a long-term plan that goes beyond the life of one parliament, we all sign up to it and we don't get into this situation where it's stop-start again." | He added: "We come up with a long-term plan that goes beyond the life of one parliament, we all sign up to it and we don't get into this situation where it's stop-start again." |
The Met Office said parts of Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire had seen record levels of rainfall for December. | The Met Office said parts of Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire had seen record levels of rainfall for December. |
Analysts estimate the cost of flooding across northern England could exceed £1.5bn. | Analysts estimate the cost of flooding across northern England could exceed £1.5bn. |
How are you preparing for Storm Frank? Have you been affected by the recent flooding? If it is safe for you to get in touch, please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your pictures and experiences. | |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |