Flooding and torrential rain across the north and the Midlands have driven thousands of people out of their homes and businesses in the past week – with 117 warnings still in place.
It’s a disaster that has already claimed one life, sparked meetings of Cobra – the government’s emergency committee – and seen politicians divert from the campaign trail to visit those affected by the floods.
Last week, families attending a
Christmas event at Meadowhall in Sheffield found themselves forced to take shelter in the shopping centre overnight after torrential rain left the roads impassible.
A woman was killed last Friday after being swept away by floodwater in Derbyshire. The body of Annie Hall – the former High Sheriff of the county – was discovered in the River Derwent a few hours later.
In South Yorkshire, where the River Don burst its banks, the Army has been called in. Soldiers have been tasked with laying sandbags in front of homes and shoring up bridges as authorities continue to tackle the floodwater.
But while the clean-up operation is well underway, the emergency is not necessarily over. There are 117 flood warnings currently in place. Check your flood risk: https://t.co/BpUpnj1mdd#Flooding#FloodAwarepic.twitter.com/zqUmA7Sb3U— Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) November 15, 2019Some 117 flood warnings remain in place across
England and Wales. That means flooding is expected in these areas, with the Environment Agency recommending “immediate action”. The Met Office says more rain is on its way but predicted it will not be “as heavy as recent days”. This will be little comfort to those who have already lost everything.
Whether more flooding is seen or not, communities will be feeling the effects of the floods for years to come.
As people try to recover from the disaster, here is the story of
Britain underwater over the past week – as told in photos. Related... Woman Who Died After Being Swept Away By Floodwater Named
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