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| Thousands evacuated in flood zone | Thousands evacuated in flood zone |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of people in East Anglia have been advised to evacuate their homes amid fears a storm surge from the North Sea will cause severe flooding. | Thousands of people in East Anglia have been advised to evacuate their homes amid fears a storm surge from the North Sea will cause severe flooding. |
| The Environment Agency has warned flood defences in Norfolk and Suffolk may not be able to cope. The storm surge is expected to peak there at 0700 GMT. | The Environment Agency has warned flood defences in Norfolk and Suffolk may not be able to cope. The storm surge is expected to peak there at 0700 GMT. |
| Norfolk Police are advising people in 7,500 Great Yarmouth homes to leave and hundreds of Suffolk homes are at risk. | Norfolk Police are advising people in 7,500 Great Yarmouth homes to leave and hundreds of Suffolk homes are at risk. |
| Parts of Lincolnshire, Essex, North Yorkshire and Kent are also on alert. | Parts of Lincolnshire, Essex, North Yorkshire and Kent are also on alert. |
| Peak tides | Peak tides |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired an emergency Cobra committee meeting on Thursday and the government is urging people to stay calm. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired an emergency Cobra committee meeting on Thursday and the government is urging people to stay calm. |
| I hope our defences can cope but this is a pretty severe weather event and some of them may not Baroness Young Environment Agency Benn urges calm over surge Threat to England and Wales | I hope our defences can cope but this is a pretty severe weather event and some of them may not Baroness Young Environment Agency Benn urges calm over surge Threat to England and Wales |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "There are RAF helicopters on standby, fire service pumps are going to be moved into East Anglia, the Environment Agency obviously has got people on patrol. | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "There are RAF helicopters on standby, fire service pumps are going to be moved into East Anglia, the Environment Agency obviously has got people on patrol. |
| "So everything that can be done is being done, what no-one can predict with absolute certainty is exactly how the storm surge is going to affect particular areas." | "So everything that can be done is being done, what no-one can predict with absolute certainty is exactly how the storm surge is going to affect particular areas." |
| Mr Benn had already told MPs that a tidal surge of up to 3m (10ft) was making its way down the North Sea, and that it could coincide with peak high tides. | Mr Benn had already told MPs that a tidal surge of up to 3m (10ft) was making its way down the North Sea, and that it could coincide with peak high tides. |
| In addition to eight severe flood warnings in Norfolk and Suffolk, there are 12 flood warnings and 25 flood watches nationally, covering the two counties, North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Essex and the north Kent coast. | In addition to eight severe flood warnings in Norfolk and Suffolk, there are 12 flood warnings and 25 flood watches nationally, covering the two counties, North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Essex and the north Kent coast. |
| In London the Thames Barrier was closed late on Thursday. Tidal flood risk manager Andy Batchelor said it would contain the water and that the city was "safe". | In London the Thames Barrier was closed late on Thursday. Tidal flood risk manager Andy Batchelor said it would contain the water and that the city was "safe". |
| The flood alerts are a response to weather and tide patterns being tracked this week by the Environment Agency and the Met Office. | The flood alerts are a response to weather and tide patterns being tracked this week by the Environment Agency and the Met Office. |
| Roads closed | Roads closed |
| Wind speeds exceeding 50mph (80km/h) are predicted, where the storm surge was expected to peak at about 0430 GMT around Immingham, near Grimsby. It is expected to peak at 0700 GMT on the East Anglian coast. | Wind speeds exceeding 50mph (80km/h) are predicted, where the storm surge was expected to peak at about 0430 GMT around Immingham, near Grimsby. It is expected to peak at 0700 GMT on the East Anglian coast. |
| FLOOD ALERTS EXPLAINED Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now!Flood Warning - Flooding of homes and businesses is expected. Act now! Flood Watch - Flooding of low lying land and roads is expected. Be aware, be prepared, watch out!Source: Environment Agency Surge residents 'helpless' Housing flood fear 'ignored' | FLOOD ALERTS EXPLAINED Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now!Flood Warning - Flooding of homes and businesses is expected. Act now! Flood Watch - Flooding of low lying land and roads is expected. Be aware, be prepared, watch out!Source: Environment Agency Surge residents 'helpless' Housing flood fear 'ignored' |
| Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young said: "I hope our defences can cope but this is a pretty severe weather event and some of them may not." | Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young said: "I hope our defences can cope but this is a pretty severe weather event and some of them may not." |
| She also suggested that people make checks on elderly relatives and neighbours. | She also suggested that people make checks on elderly relatives and neighbours. |
| Speaking shortly after 0200 GMT, Superintendent Gavin Tempest told the BBC Radio Norfolk the tide should have been out at that time of the day but waters had not receded and that "was an indication that reports from the Environment Agency were correct". | Speaking shortly after 0200 GMT, Superintendent Gavin Tempest told the BBC Radio Norfolk the tide should have been out at that time of the day but waters had not receded and that "was an indication that reports from the Environment Agency were correct". |
| The roads around Great Yarmouth, the A47, the A12 and A1064, have been closed but police are allowing vehicles to leave the town along those routes. | The roads around Great Yarmouth, the A47, the A12 and A1064, have been closed but police are allowing vehicles to leave the town along those routes. |
| Hundreds of people are at five rest centres in Norfolk but there have been no evacuations yet in Suffolk. | Hundreds of people are at five rest centres in Norfolk but there have been no evacuations yet in Suffolk. |
| Thirty schools have been closed as a precaution in Suffolk, and Felixstowe Port has also shut. It is expected to re-open at lunchtime on Friday. | |
| Speaking from one of the evacuation centres, the Marina Centre in Great Yarmouth, general manager Wayne Dixon said they had taken in more than 400 people and were now "over capacity". | Speaking from one of the evacuation centres, the Marina Centre in Great Yarmouth, general manager Wayne Dixon said they had taken in more than 400 people and were now "over capacity". |
| Large parts of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent were left under water in 1953, and 307 people died, when high tides and a storm saw a tidal surge of 3.2m (10ft 6in). | Large parts of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent were left under water in 1953, and 307 people died, when high tides and a storm saw a tidal surge of 3.2m (10ft 6in). |
| The Environment Agency said it was "much better prepared now", but the Met Office added that it was predicting the highest tide since 1983 in Felixstowe, Suffolk. | The Environment Agency said it was "much better prepared now", but the Met Office added that it was predicting the highest tide since 1983 in Felixstowe, Suffolk. |
| For more information on flood risks call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 08459 881188. | For more information on flood risks call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 08459 881188. |
| Are you in one of the flood areas? How are you preparing? Please use the form below to contact us. | Are you in one of the flood areas? How are you preparing? Please use the form below to contact us. |