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| High tides put pressure on coast | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Parts of Great Yarmouth are seeing some flooding as the highest tides for 50 years threaten the east of England. | Parts of Great Yarmouth are seeing some flooding as the highest tides for 50 years threaten the east of England. |
| Thousands of people have been evacuated, roads into the Norfolk town have been closed, and the road at South Quay is reportedly flooded. | Thousands of people have been evacuated, roads into the Norfolk town have been closed, and the road at South Quay is reportedly flooded. |
| The Environment Agency said surge levels were expected to be nearly 8in (20cm) lower than originally feared. | The Environment Agency said surge levels were expected to be nearly 8in (20cm) lower than originally feared. |
| Parts of Lincolnshire, Essex, North Yorkshire and Kent are on alert but the agency had no reports of new flooding. | Parts of Lincolnshire, Essex, North Yorkshire and Kent are on alert but the agency had no reports of new flooding. |
| In Suffolk, the sea has nearly reached houses in Walberswick, while water is seeping underneath wooden sea defence gates in Felixstowe. | In Suffolk, the sea has nearly reached houses in Walberswick, while water is seeping underneath wooden sea defence gates in Felixstowe. |
| The Environment Agency has urged people in north Kent, round to Sandwich and Deal, to be vigilant. | The Environment Agency has urged people in north Kent, round to Sandwich and Deal, to be vigilant. |
| In London, the Thames Barrier was being closed on Friday morning. The Thames has been declared all clear. | In London, the Thames Barrier was being closed on Friday morning. The Thames has been declared all clear. |
| 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 |
| Dover District Council has warned that vehicles parked at Sandwich Quay are in danger of being damaged by floodwater. | |
| Felixstowe docks closed are closed, and rail company One has suspended services between Lowestoft and Norwich due to flooding on the line. | Felixstowe docks closed are closed, and rail company One has suspended services between Lowestoft and Norwich due to flooding on the line. |
| Water levels were almost reaching the top of road bridges across the River Yare in Great Yarmouth, according to witnesses. | Water levels were almost reaching the top of road bridges across the River Yare in Great Yarmouth, according to witnesses. |
| The coastguard at Happisburgh said flood waters have breached sea defences at Walcott in Norfolk. | |
| Government ready | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired an emergency Cobra committee meeting at 0600 GMT on Friday. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired an emergency Cobra committee meeting at 0600 GMT on Friday. |
| Mr Brown said: "Our first priority is to ensure people are safe, that's why we are bringing in the helicopters, sand bags, the preparations that are absolutely necessary." | |
| Mr Brown said it was too early to say what damage had been caused. | |
| "The important thing is that the national government stands ready to help local people," he added | |
| Phil Rothwell, head of flood policy at the Environment Agency, said the surge was about the same level as the devastating 1953 flood but that technology and sea defences had improved since then. | Phil Rothwell, head of flood policy at the Environment Agency, said the surge was about the same level as the devastating 1953 flood but that technology and sea defences had improved since then. |
| He said: "It looks to be about 20cm lower than we originally thought, judging by what's happened slightly further north. However, that's still above the crest height of some of the sea defences." | He said: "It looks to be about 20cm lower than we originally thought, judging by what's happened slightly further north. However, that's still above the crest height of some of the sea defences." |
| Tidal surge | Tidal surge |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn advised people in the affected areas to keep up to date with information put out by the authorities | |
| He said: "I know many people will be anxious about their homes and their property and what's going to happen but I think everything that can be done to prepare has been done. | |
| "We've just now got to wait and see what nature produces". | |
| The Environment Agency has eight severe flood warnings,12 standard flood warnings and 23 flood watches in place, mainly in East Anglia, the north east of England and along the south coast. | The Environment Agency has eight severe flood warnings,12 standard flood warnings and 23 flood watches in place, mainly in East Anglia, the north east of England and along the south coast. |
| In the Humber region, lifeboat crews are on standby and the Environment Agency issued a flood watch along the Humber Estuary. | In the Humber region, lifeboat crews are on standby and the Environment Agency issued a flood watch along the Humber Estuary. |
| BBC News environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee in Great Yarmouth said waters were about 6ins (15cm) from the top of flood defences. | BBC News environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee in Great Yarmouth said waters were about 6ins (15cm) from the top of flood defences. |
| She said at Oulton Broad there had been some spillage over the defences but they had not been breached so far. | She said at Oulton Broad there had been some spillage over the defences but they had not been breached so far. |
| Environment Agency was very worried that sea defences would be breached, our correspondent added. | Environment Agency was very worried that sea defences would be breached, our correspondent added. |
| Roads closed | Roads closed |
| 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. |
| 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 from one of the evacuation centres set up, 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. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial 61124. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial 61124. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| 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 |