This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6913752.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Flood crisis operation launched | Flood crisis operation launched |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Residents of flood-hit areas have been told not to panic as a massive emergency operation is launched to get clean water to those left stranded. | Residents of flood-hit areas have been told not to panic as a massive emergency operation is launched to get clean water to those left stranded. |
| Emergency services are battling to deliver supplies to the 350,000 people across Gloucestershire who have been without running water since Sunday. | Emergency services are battling to deliver supplies to the 350,000 people across Gloucestershire who have been without running water since Sunday. |
| Police urged people to stay calm, as there would be enough for everyone. | Police urged people to stay calm, as there would be enough for everyone. |
| Waters have receded in western England, but homeowners near the River Thames in Berkshire are braced for more floods. | Waters have receded in western England, but homeowners near the River Thames in Berkshire are braced for more floods. |
| Emergency services warned the crisis was not over, with thousands of homes still without running water and further flooding expected in southern England. | |
| There are still six severe flood warnings still in place, and water levels have yet to peak in the Pangbourne, Purley on Thames and Reading areas of Berkshire. | |
| Bottle deliveries | Bottle deliveries |
| As many as 900 bowsers - mobile water dispensers - will be mobilised in Gloucestershire by Wednesday morning to provide essential supplies. | As many as 900 bowsers - mobile water dispensers - will be mobilised in Gloucestershire by Wednesday morning to provide essential supplies. |
| The Army is also distributing three million bottles of water a day until tap supplies are restored. | The Army is also distributing three million bottles of water a day until tap supplies are restored. |
| Chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council Peter Bungard said: "I'm really, really worried, 350,000 people is hard to imagine, and amongst those are very vulnerable people." | Chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council Peter Bungard said: "I'm really, really worried, 350,000 people is hard to imagine, and amongst those are very vulnerable people." |
| Bottled water is being distributed in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire Floods: At-a-glance href="/1/hi/uk/6913721.stm">Life without water class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6911945.stm">Your stories of the floods | |
| Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tim Brain said normal supplies might not be restored for up to 14 days. | Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tim Brain said normal supplies might not be restored for up to 14 days. |
| "It is important that people continue to conserve their own domestic supplies and do not panic in respect of getting water from the bowsers, or from the bottle treatment centres or from commercial outlets," he said. | "It is important that people continue to conserve their own domestic supplies and do not panic in respect of getting water from the bowsers, or from the bottle treatment centres or from commercial outlets," he said. |
| "If people act calmly and with patience and forbearance, there is sufficient water for everybody." | "If people act calmly and with patience and forbearance, there is sufficient water for everybody." |
| See map of severe flood warnings | See map of severe flood warnings |
| Forecasters warned more showers were expected across England throughout the week, with heavy rainfall predicted for Thursday. | |
| The Environment Agency said the rainfall could result in water levels rising yet again, causing more misery for homes and businesses. | The Environment Agency said the rainfall could result in water levels rising yet again, causing more misery for homes and businesses. |
| Power restored | Power restored |
| As many as 48,000 of homes in Gloucestershire have had electricity supplies restored, after Gloucester's Castlemeads flooded electricity substation was repaired. | As many as 48,000 of homes in Gloucestershire have had electricity supplies restored, after Gloucester's Castlemeads flooded electricity substation was repaired. |
| ENGLAND FLOODED Gloucestershire has been one of the areas worst affected by the flooding Twins die after flood rescue Berkshire river surge fears Oxfordshire waters stabilise Worcs roads reopening | ENGLAND FLOODED Gloucestershire has been one of the areas worst affected by the flooding Twins die after flood rescue Berkshire river surge fears Oxfordshire waters stabilise Worcs roads reopening |
| And Mr Brain praised the "super-human" effort which prevented flood water breaching the walls of another of the city's substations, Walham, which serves 250,000 people. | And Mr Brain praised the "super-human" effort which prevented flood water breaching the walls of another of the city's substations, Walham, which serves 250,000 people. |
| The fire service and military are still at the Walham site, pumping water into a nearby canal. | The fire service and military are still at the Walham site, pumping water into a nearby canal. |
| Emergency services are also trying to gain access to Tewkesbury's Mythe Water Treatment Works to return water supplies to 350,000 people in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham. | Emergency services are also trying to gain access to Tewkesbury's Mythe Water Treatment Works to return water supplies to 350,000 people in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham. |
| Pumping equipment is being diverted to the water station from the two electricity substations. | Pumping equipment is being diverted to the water station from the two electricity substations. |
| Up to 10,000 homes have either been flooded or are at risk of flooding in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, according to the government. | |
| Parts of Worcestershire remain under water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn. | |
| A large-scale clean-up is under way in the county to reopen roads closed after the floods. | |
| More flood fears | |
| In Shropshire, the UK National Ballooning Championships due to take place next week have been cancelled for the first time in their 32-year history because of the bad weather. | |
| Water levels in the Thames peaked at Abingdon in Oxfordshire overnight and at Oxford itself early on Tuesday, with residents escaping flooding. | Water levels in the Thames peaked at Abingdon in Oxfordshire overnight and at Oxford itself early on Tuesday, with residents escaping flooding. |
| But there are fears several hundred homes could be at risk further along the Thames in Berkshire, which has already been badly affected, and where water levels are not expected to peak until Wednesday. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6893&edition=1&ttl=20070720094446">Send us your experiences | |
| Tim Abbott, spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "We are now expecting the Thames to peak in Pangbourne, Purley and the Reading area in the early hours of tomorrow. There could be flooding of some properties. | Tim Abbott, spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "We are now expecting the Thames to peak in Pangbourne, Purley and the Reading area in the early hours of tomorrow. There could be flooding of some properties. |
| "Levels in Reading, however, are not expected to be anything like what we have had in Oxfordshire." | "Levels in Reading, however, are not expected to be anything like what we have had in Oxfordshire." |
| On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee where the possibility of the floods spreading to London was discussed, as well as different contingency plans for the waters moving east. | |
| The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn, two on the Thames, and one on the Ock in Oxfordshire. | The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn, two on the Thames, and one on the Ock in Oxfordshire. |
| The water levels of both the Severn and Thames have exceeded in some areas those of devastating floods in 1947. | |
| The Red Cross has launched an appeal to raise money to help the thousands of people affected by the crisis. | |
| The Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach at least £2bn. | The Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach at least £2bn. |
| Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 | Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 |
| SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to AbingdonThe Great Ouse: Warnings no longer considered severe from Turvey to Sharnbrook | SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to AbingdonThe Great Ouse: Warnings no longer considered severe from Turvey to Sharnbrook |
| Return | Return |
| Have you been affected by the lack of clean water supplies in your area? The BBC would like to hear about your experiences. Please use the form below to send us your details or you can text us on 61124. | Have you been affected by the lack of clean water supplies in your area? The BBC would like to hear about your experiences. Please use the form below to send us your details or you can text us on 61124. |