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Floods bring chaos across county Floods bring chaos across county
(10 minutes later)
Some 350,000 homes in Gloucestershire will soon be without water because of flooding at a treatment works.Some 350,000 homes in Gloucestershire will soon be without water because of flooding at a treatment works.
Tens of thousands of homes are without tap water and supplies in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury will run dry in hours, Severn Trent Water said.Tens of thousands of homes are without tap water and supplies in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury will run dry in hours, Severn Trent Water said.
The Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police Tim Brain said the supply was unlikely to be restored for a week. About 600,000 people could lose electricity if flooding overwhelms defences around a key substation.
He added that 600,000 people could lose electricity if flooding overwhelms defences around a key substation. The Environment Secretary said contingency plans are being made to move some people out of the county.
The Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police, Tim Brain, said the water supply was unlikely to be restored for a week, and that flooding is threatening to overwhelm an electricity substation.
"The barriers may hold but they may be over topped because we're expecting another high watermark this evening at about midnight and again tomorrow," he said."The barriers may hold but they may be over topped because we're expecting another high watermark this evening at about midnight and again tomorrow," he said.
An operation was carried out overnight at the Walham Switching Station, which supplies homes in Gloucestershire and south Wales. Flood defences at Walham Switching Station, which supplies homes in Gloucestershire and south Wales, were boosted overnight.
I must emphasise that the situation we face remains unprecedented Tim Brain, Chief Constable Young family's struggle Coping with no tap waterI must emphasise that the situation we face remains unprecedented Tim Brain, Chief Constable Young family's struggle Coping with no tap water
Environment Agency staff worked through the night with the military, fire and rescue services and the police to put up flood barriers.Environment Agency staff worked through the night with the military, fire and rescue services and the police to put up flood barriers.
The Navy is also involved in protecting the Castle Meads substation, which supplies homes in and around Gloucester and has already been turned off.The Navy is also involved in protecting the Castle Meads substation, which supplies homes in and around Gloucester and has already been turned off.
About 15,000 homes in Gloucestershire have no power, with power cuts also taking one of the county's main sewage treatment centres off-line.About 15,000 homes in Gloucestershire have no power, with power cuts also taking one of the county's main sewage treatment centres off-line.
The Netheridge treatment centre stopped working when its electricity supply was interrupted.The Netheridge treatment centre stopped working when its electricity supply was interrupted.
Backup generators are on site and Severn Trent is stressing there is good capacity to store waste water at the site.Backup generators are on site and Severn Trent is stressing there is good capacity to store waste water at the site.
We will provide crisis and care grants for people to make sure those who are displaced are given help Gordon Brown, Prime MinisterWe will provide crisis and care grants for people to make sure those who are displaced are given help Gordon Brown, Prime Minister
With regards to water supplies, the chief constable added: "With respect to the Mythe water treatment works that is still out of action and there I am afraid to say the prognosis is not good.With regards to water supplies, the chief constable added: "With respect to the Mythe water treatment works that is still out of action and there I am afraid to say the prognosis is not good.
"The best case scenario is seven days and we have been told up to 14 days before it can become fully operative.""The best case scenario is seven days and we have been told up to 14 days before it can become fully operative."
Bottled water and 600 water tanks have been brought in to bolster supplies.Bottled water and 600 water tanks have been brought in to bolster supplies.
Fraser Pithie from Severn Trent Water said: "Most of Gloucester city has no water now; Cheltenham still has got water but obviously its likely to lose its supply later today."Fraser Pithie from Severn Trent Water said: "Most of Gloucester city has no water now; Cheltenham still has got water but obviously its likely to lose its supply later today."
Mr Brain said: "I must emphasise that the situation we face remains unprecedented.Mr Brain said: "I must emphasise that the situation we face remains unprecedented.
'Superb response''Superb response'
"There are still high levels of water and there is still more water to come down the Severn and other tributary rivers and we have by no means passed the peak of the ongoing emergency. We are not yet in a full recovery stage.""There are still high levels of water and there is still more water to come down the Severn and other tributary rivers and we have by no means passed the peak of the ongoing emergency. We are not yet in a full recovery stage."
Tewkesbury remains cut off, surrounded by water.Tewkesbury remains cut off, surrounded by water.
Local Tory MP Laurence Robertson said: "The crucial thing at the moment is make sure everybody is safe."Local Tory MP Laurence Robertson said: "The crucial thing at the moment is make sure everybody is safe."
More than 100 Royal Navy personnel have been sent to the county to help the operation and Gordon Brown has also visited.More than 100 Royal Navy personnel have been sent to the county to help the operation and Gordon Brown has also visited.
The prime minister said the response of the emergency services has been superb.The prime minister said the response of the emergency services has been superb.
Gloucester FC has been submerged, pic by Matthew CliftGloucester FC has been submerged, pic by Matthew Clift
"We will provide crisis and care grants for people to make sure those who are displaced are given help and we will make funds available to local authorities in this area to make sure they can do what's necessary," he said."We will provide crisis and care grants for people to make sure those who are displaced are given help and we will make funds available to local authorities in this area to make sure they can do what's necessary," he said.
The chairman of the Environment Agency, Sir John Harman, said the huge amounts of rainwater that had entered the river system were now heading downstream towards major centres.The chairman of the Environment Agency, Sir John Harman, said the huge amounts of rainwater that had entered the river system were now heading downstream towards major centres.
He said the Severn would continue rising in Gloucester until Tuesday afternoon.He said the Severn would continue rising in Gloucester until Tuesday afternoon.
A small number of prisoners - whose cells were located on the ground floor - have been moved from Gloucester Prison to other jails as a result of the floods. About 30 prisoners - whose cells were located on the ground floor - have so far been moved from Gloucester Prison to other jails as a result of the floods.
More will be moved on Monday. Around 80 more will be moved on Monday because of failing water supplies.
A number of public health issues have also been identified. The Director of Public Health for Gloucestershire Dr Shona Arora advised:A number of public health issues have also been identified. The Director of Public Health for Gloucestershire Dr Shona Arora advised:
    • Wear wellingtons to wade through the flood water and keep children from playing in it to minimise any risk of infection
    • Wear wellingtons to wade through the flood water and keep children from playing in it to minimise any risk of infection
    • Boil all bowser water as a precaution and use it to make up infant formula
    • Boil all bowser water as a precaution and use it to make up infant formula
    • Flush the toilet less often and try to use grey water including flood water for this
    • Flush the toilet less often and try to use grey water including flood water for this
    • Main hospitals are functioning, although Tewskebury Hospital has been partially evacuated
    • Main hospitals are functioning, although Tewskebury Hospital has been partially evacuated
    • Most GP surgeries are functioning
    • Most GP surgeries are functioning
      • BBC Radio Gloucestershire is running special programming with regular updates on the flooding.BBC Radio Gloucestershire is running special programming with regular updates on the flooding.
      It can be heard on 1413 MW, 104.7, 95.0, 95.8 FM, and online bbc.co.uk/gloucestershireIt can be heard on 1413 MW, 104.7, 95.0, 95.8 FM, and online bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire