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| Flood crisis operation launched | Flood crisis operation launched |
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| Residents of flood-hit areas in England have been told not to panic as a massive operation takes place to get clean water to those left stranded. | Residents of flood-hit areas in England have been told not to panic as a massive operation takes place to get clean water to those left stranded. |
| Emergency services have been battling to deliver supplies to the 350,000 people across Gloucestershire without running water since Sunday. | Emergency services have been battling to deliver supplies to the 350,000 people across Gloucestershire without running water since Sunday. |
| Police urged calm, saying there was enough water for everyone. | |
| Meanwhile, homes in west Oxford have begun to flood and water is being pumped from a power substation. | Meanwhile, homes in west Oxford have begun to flood and water is being pumped from a power substation. |
| The flooding from the River Thames started late on Tuesday as the river was still rising and it is not expected to peak in the city until lunchtime on Wednesday. | The flooding from the River Thames started late on Tuesday as the river was still rising and it is not expected to peak in the city until lunchtime on Wednesday. |
| The Osney Mead substation supplies power to Oxford city centre, although the fire service said supplies to some business premises had already been re-routed. | The Osney Mead substation supplies power to Oxford city centre, although the fire service said supplies to some business premises had already been re-routed. |
| Please extend my sympathy to all the many people whose homes have been damaged, livelihoods threatened, or who have been affected by the water and power shortages. The Queen's message of support | |
| Homeowners in Berkshire, where the Thames is yet to peak in Pangbourne, Purley on Thames and Reading, are also braced for more floods. | Homeowners in Berkshire, where the Thames is yet to peak in Pangbourne, Purley on Thames and Reading, are also braced for more floods. |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn earlier warned that the emergency was "still not over" and that flooding of further properties along the Thames may be "unavoidable". | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn earlier warned that the emergency was "still not over" and that flooding of further properties along the Thames may be "unavoidable". |
| He pledged to add a further £10m to the current £14m recovery fund available to local authorities to help with the aftermath of the worst flooding for more than 60 years. | He pledged to add a further £10m to the current £14m recovery fund available to local authorities to help with the aftermath of the worst flooding for more than 60 years. |
| Rainfall predicted | Rainfall predicted |
| Six severe flood warnings remain in place across western England. Forecasters say more showers are expected across England throughout the week, with heavy rainfall predicted for Thursday. | Six severe flood warnings remain in place across western England. Forecasters say more showers are expected across England throughout the week, with heavy rainfall predicted for Thursday. |
| class="bodl" href="#anchor">See map of severe flood warnings name="back"> | |
| The Environment Agency warned water levels could rise again and urged people to stay alert. | |
| Bowsers are providing water to people in Gloucestershire Floods: At-a-glance Life without water Your stories of the floods | Bowsers are providing water to people in Gloucestershire Floods: At-a-glance Life without water Your stories of the floods |
| The Queen sent her sympathies to all those affected, saying she was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the devastation caused. | |
| She also sent her "heartfelt thanks" and expressed her "continued admiration" for the emergency services, military personnel, local authorities, and volunteers working "tirelessly and selflessly to bring people to safety and avert further damage". | |
| While flood waters have been receding in areas of Gloucestershire, parts of Gloucester and Tewkesbury - the two worst hit areas - remain under water. | |
| As many as 900 bowsers - mobile water dispensers - will be mobilised in the county by Wednesday morning to provide essential supplies. | As many as 900 bowsers - mobile water dispensers - will be mobilised in the county by Wednesday morning to provide essential supplies. |
| The Army is also delivering three million bottles of water a day, distributed from Cheltenham Racecourse. | The Army is also delivering three million bottles of water a day, distributed from Cheltenham Racecourse. |
| 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." | |
| ENGLAND FLOODED Gloucestershire has been one of the worst-affected areas class="" href="/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6913075.stm">Twins die after flood rescue class="" href="/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6913267.stm">Gloucestershire water crisis class="" href="/1/hi/england/berkshire/6913023.stm">Berkshire river surge fears class="" href="/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/6913041.stm">Worcs roads reopening class="" href="/1/hi/england/humber/6913629.stm">Hull flood total is revealed | |
| Gloucester resident Peter Bileman told the BBC he had tried 11 bowsers before finding one with any water in it. | |
| And the county council said several bowsers had been vandalised amid frustrations over supply. | |
| There are further fears residents in northern parts of nearby Stroud could also lose running water because a crucial reservoir is running dry. | There are further fears residents in northern parts of nearby Stroud could also lose running water because a crucial reservoir is running dry. |
| Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tim Brain said normal supplies might not be restored for up to 14 days but advised people to remain calm. | Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tim Brain said normal supplies might not be restored for up to 14 days but advised people to remain calm. |
| "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." |
| Power restored | Power restored |
| Up to 48,000 homes in Gloucester had their electricity supplies restored on Tuesday following repairs to the flooded Castlemeads electricity substation. | |
| And Ch Con Brain praised the "super-human" effort which had prevented flood water breaching the walls of another of Gloucester's substations, Walham, which serves 250,000 people. | |
| 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 | |
| Emergency services have been trying to gain access to Tewkesbury's Mythe water treatment works to return water supplies to 350,000 people in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham. | |
| During the current crisis, 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. | During the current crisis, 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. | Parts of Worcestershire remain under water and the Army has been deployed to help emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn. |
| The water levels of both the Severn and Thames have exceeded in some areas those of devastating floods in 1947. | 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 Red Cross has launched an appeal to raise money to help the thousands of people affected by the crisis. |
| 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 Abingdon | 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 Abingdon |
| 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. |