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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Support pledged for flood areas | Support pledged for flood areas |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government insists that it will do what it can to support areas of England devastated by flooding. | The government insists that it will do what it can to support areas of England devastated by flooding. |
| Local Government Minister John Healey did not promise any additional money, but said existing grants and insurance would cover much of the costs. | Local Government Minister John Healey did not promise any additional money, but said existing grants and insurance would cover much of the costs. |
| Speaking on a visit to Hull, he said the government's role was to "help the councils and agencies that will have to lead this recovery work". | Speaking on a visit to Hull, he said the government's role was to "help the councils and agencies that will have to lead this recovery work". |
| Hull City Council says the city is the victim of a "humanitarian disaster". | Hull City Council says the city is the victim of a "humanitarian disaster". |
| Around 16,000 homes or one in 10 households in Hull have been affected by flooding and 10,500 have been evacuated. | |
| '£200m cost' | '£200m cost' |
| The Liberal Democrat-controlled council says the cost of flood damage to the city could hit £200m. | The Liberal Democrat-controlled council says the cost of flood damage to the city could hit £200m. |
| Flooding drains but tears remain | Flooding drains but tears remain |
| Some £18m has been earmarked by the city council for repairs to the affected homes, but it has called on the government for urgent financial help. | Some £18m has been earmarked by the city council for repairs to the affected homes, but it has called on the government for urgent financial help. |
| Quite frankly if this was Chelsea or Fulham, this would have been plastered over the front pages for weeks Carl Minns, Hull City Council leader | Quite frankly if this was Chelsea or Fulham, this would have been plastered over the front pages for weeks Carl Minns, Hull City Council leader |
| Mr Healey, who is co-ordinating the government's response to the flooding, was joined on his visit to Hull by local MPs John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, and Alan Johnson, the health secretary. | Mr Healey, who is co-ordinating the government's response to the flooding, was joined on his visit to Hull by local MPs John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, and Alan Johnson, the health secretary. |
| Mr Healey said there was already financial help in place, adding: "There will be more help on its way." | Mr Healey said there was already financial help in place, adding: "There will be more help on its way." |
| But he made no specific promises and stressed that local authorities must first make a proper assessment of the damage and the help they needed. | But he made no specific promises and stressed that local authorities must first make a proper assessment of the damage and the help they needed. |
| "The important thing is how much of the costs are not going to be covered by the councils' insurance, because clearly we will be looking for the insurance companies - and councils have good insurance - to pick up those costs. | "The important thing is how much of the costs are not going to be covered by the councils' insurance, because clearly we will be looking for the insurance companies - and councils have good insurance - to pick up those costs. |
| "Government centrally will do what it can to support the local council and local agencies in Hull and in other areas that have been so badly affected." | "Government centrally will do what it can to support the local council and local agencies in Hull and in other areas that have been so badly affected." |
| Earlier he told the BBC that he did not believe that Hull was the "forgotten city" of the flooding, as the council has said. | Earlier he told the BBC that he did not believe that Hull was the "forgotten city" of the flooding, as the council has said. |
| 'Traumatic' | 'Traumatic' |
| Hazel Blears, the communities secretary, will visit Hull on Friday. On Thursday she visited Sheffield, which has also been badly hit by the floods. | Hazel Blears, the communities secretary, will visit Hull on Friday. On Thursday she visited Sheffield, which has also been badly hit by the floods. |
| She said: "There are crisis grants available, there are some community care grants available. We've really got to see now how we can help people through this process. | She said: "There are crisis grants available, there are some community care grants available. We've really got to see now how we can help people through this process. |
| "It's incredibly traumatic to see your lifetime's possessions ruined and swept away in this way, and we want to help as much as we can." | "It's incredibly traumatic to see your lifetime's possessions ruined and swept away in this way, and we want to help as much as we can." |
| Hull City Council leader Carl Minns said: "What we're still waiting for is an assurance that capital money will be available to Hull, so we can start this rebuilding process. | Hull City Council leader Carl Minns said: "What we're still waiting for is an assurance that capital money will be available to Hull, so we can start this rebuilding process. |
| "The government needs to help this city with a large injection of capital, otherwise this city will not recover." | "The government needs to help this city with a large injection of capital, otherwise this city will not recover." |
| He added: "There's a massive humanitarian disaster here, that we've set up an appeal fund for - The Hull Flood Fund - and I appeal to people across the country to donate, so we can help those 35,000 [affected] people get back to normal as well." | He added: "There's a massive humanitarian disaster here, that we've set up an appeal fund for - The Hull Flood Fund - and I appeal to people across the country to donate, so we can help those 35,000 [affected] people get back to normal as well." |
| Earlier he said: "Quite frankly if this was Chelsea or Fulham, this would have been plastered over the front pages for weeks." | Earlier he said: "Quite frankly if this was Chelsea or Fulham, this would have been plastered over the front pages for weeks." |
| During his visit to Hull, Mr Healey was taken on a tour of Sydney Smith School, which was swamped by 4ft of water. | |
| Headteacher Kevin Beaton told him 100 classrooms had been damaged in the floods and the repair bill was an estimated £5 million. | |
| Meanwhile, a fire chief has defended the crews who tried in vain to save a man trapped in grating in raging floodwaters in Hull. | Meanwhile, a fire chief has defended the crews who tried in vain to save a man trapped in grating in raging floodwaters in Hull. |
| Mike Barnett, 28, was trapped by the foot in neck-high water in Hessle for four hours, until he eventually died from hypothermia. | Mike Barnett, 28, was trapped by the foot in neck-high water in Hessle for four hours, until he eventually died from hypothermia. |
| His family has said not enough was done by the rescuers to save him. | His family has said not enough was done by the rescuers to save him. |
| On Thursday, the Environment Agency still had 11 flood warnings in force in Anglia, north-east and north-west England, the Midlands and Wales. | On Thursday, the Environment Agency still had 11 flood warnings in force in Anglia, north-east and north-west England, the Midlands and Wales. |
| Have you been affected by the floods? Do you have experiences of the situation in Hull? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by the floods? Do you have experiences of the situation in Hull? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
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