2007 United Kingdom floods

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Alonetoday (talk | contribs) at 18:29, 25 July 2007. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

wwe ringtones free music ringtones ambien real ringtones order meridia free polyphonic ringtones free mp3 ringtones cheap ultracet cheap lipitor xanax online rivotril online cheap cialis cheap ultracet levitra online free kyocera ringtones free music ringtones cheap soma wellbutrin online tenuate online nextel ringtones paxil online motorola ringtones xanax online order lipitor free punk ringtones sony ericsson ringtones free cool ringtones sonyericsson ringtones mtv ringtones order albuterol polyphonic ringtones lisinopril online prozac online cheap clonazepam zanaflex online lisinopril online cheap hydrocodone fioricet online midi ringtones cheap paxil lorazepam online flexeril free alltel ringtones soma online midi ringtones free mtv ringtones cheap paxil free sony ericsson ringtones order xenical valium cheap fioricet alprazolam online rivotril online mp3 ringtones free kyocera ringtones music ringtones buy wellbutrin zoloft online free sonyericsson ringtones cheap vigrx cheap lortab free alltel ringtones midi ringtones flexeril online cingular ringtones free wwe ringtones cheap soma carisoprodol online cheap ortho buy diethylpropion real ringtones ultracet online funny ringtones cheap clomid samsung ringtones order clomid ortho buy lortab valium online order xenical soma online free mp3 ringtones free sagem ringtones buy cyclobenzaprine samsung ringtones but levitra cheap ambien free alltel ringtones free verizon ringtones free polyphonic ringtones cialis online free ericsson ringtones free wwe ringtones mp3 ringtones order vigrx clonazepam online buy adipex qwest ringtones verizon ringtones cheap sildenafil adipex online free kyocera ringtones buy nexium free cingular ringtones tenuate online free sony ringtones order ambien tracfone ringtones xenical online flexeril online zoloft online buy hoodia but valium cheap albuterol hgh online xanax online cheap cyclobenzaprine cialis online flexeril online free sprint ringtones cheap zyban free tracfone ringtones valium online order hydrocodone cyclobenzaprine buy propecia rivotril online cheap norco free free ringtones free sony ericsson ringtones cheap vigrx free mp3 ringtones free mtv ringtones free sagem ringtones tracfone ringtones sony ringtones online nexium ambien tracfone ringtones hydrocodone online ambien online cheap phentermine cialis buy ortho midi ringtones cheap alprazolam order lipitor wellbutrin online

2007 UK floods
A Pizza Hut restaurant surrounded by
flood water in Chesterfield, England.
DateJune 2007—present
Location(see below)
Deaths~11
Property damage~£2 billion
Two kayakers make their way through a street in Yorkshire.

Widespread flooding is occuring in many parts of the United Kingdom. South Wales, The Midlands, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and London have, are experiencing or expected to experience serious flooding from 20 July onwards.

Previously, in June of 2007, there were several different floods, with the most severe flooding occurring across Northern Ireland on 12 June 2007; North Yorkshire and The Midlands on 15 June 2007; Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire on 25 June 2007.

June was one of the wettest months on record in Britain (see List of weather records). Average rainfall across England was 140 mm, more than double the June average. Some areas received a month's worth of precipitation in just 24 hours,[1] and it was Sheffield's wettest month since records began.[2]

July's weather is continuing to be unsettled (unusually so for summer), with above-average rain falling through the month, peaking on 20 July as an active frontal system dumped more than 120 mm of rain in Southern England.[3] The flooding in July is expected to exceed the 1947 benchmark according to Environment Agency officials.[4]

So far, at least eleven people have died in the flooding and up to one million people have been affected.[5] Damage to business and property is estimated to be over £2 billion,[6] with 5,000 businesses and 27,000 homes affected.

The rescue efforts were described as the biggest in peacetime Britain at various times, following the late June flooding by the Fire Brigades Union[7] and following the July flooding by the Royal Air Force (RAF)[8][9][10][11]. Also following the flooding in July, the Environment Agency described the situation as "critical".[11]


Meteorological background

June 2007 started quietly with an anticyclone to the north of the United Kingdom maintaining a dry, cool easterly flow. From 10 June the high pressure began to break down as an upper trough moved into the area, triggering thunderstorms that caused flooding in Northern Ireland on 12 June.

Later that week, a slow moving area of low pressure from the west of Biscay moved east across the British Isles. At the same time, an associated occluded front moved into Northern England, becoming very active as it did so and leading to localised flooding. As it weakened, the front moved north into Scotland on 16 June and left England and Wales with a very unstable airmass, frequent heavy showers, thunderstorms and cloudy conditions. This led to localised flash flooding and prevented significant drying where earlier rains had fallen.

On 25 June another unseasonably low pressure (993 hPa) depression moved across England. The associated front settled over Eastern England and dumped more than 100 mm of rain in places. The combination of high rainfall and high water levels from the earlier rainfall led to extensive flooding across many parts of England, especially South Yorkshire and The Midlands.

On 20 July, another active frontal system moved across Southern England. Many places recorded a month's rainfall or more in one day. The Met Office at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire reported 126.6 mm: a sixth of its annual rainfall. The college at Pershore in Worcestershire reported 142.2 mm,[12] causing the Environment Agency to issue 16 further severe flood warnings.[13] A swathe of the country from the Midlands to West London promptly flooded.

Climate researchers have suggested that the unusual weather leading to the floods may be linked to this year's appearance of La Niña in the Pacific Ocean,[14] and the Jet stream being further south than normal.[15]

Reported individual deaths

Reported as flood-related

  • Mike Barnett, 28. Died 25 June in Hull. Drowned whilst attempting to clear flooded drain.[19]
  • Peter Harding, 68. Died 25 June in Sheffield. Drowned in the flooded area of Carlisle Street and Newhall Street.[21][22][23]
  • Eric Dickinson, 68, Judge. Pronounced dead 26 June in Pershore. Retrieved near Bow Brook, a tributary of the River Avon.[24][25]
  • Tony Aldridge, 64, Died 19 July in Alston, Cumbria. Head injuries whilst attempting to bail out flooded home.[27][28]
  • Unnamed newborn twins. Died 21 July in Cheltenham General Hospital. Premature births: mother trapped in flooded Tewkesbury.[29]

Conflicting reports

  • Donald Bertram Oxley, aged 60. Pronounced dead 28 June. Retrieved from Torksey Lock near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Reported by Guardian on 28 June as a flood death. Reported by BBC on 28 June as "not yet known if flood-related". As of 2 July, inquest had not opened.[31][32][33]

Affected areas

English counties damaged in June and July 2007 floods as of 24 July

East Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull

A 28 year old man drowned after getting his foot trapped in a drain when trying to clear debris in the Hessle area of Kingston upon Hull.[34] Fire crew received over 1500 calls in a 12 hour period. Pickering was flooded after Pickering Beck overflowed its banks. The new Hull police station had to be vacated because of flooding.

Nottinghamshire

On 27 June 2007, flash flooding caused extensive damage to the villages of Lambley, Woodborough and Burton Joyce. Major towns were hit including Mansfield and Hucknall but not as severely as Lambley. Nottingham city was on high ground and unaffected.

West Yorkshire

Wakefield was flooded. Six elderly women, including a 91-year-old, were stranded in their homes.[35]

County Durham

Flash floods affected parts of Darlington. The town's Stanhope Street, Northgate Street, St Cuthbert's Way and Parkgate were closed on 23 June after water levels rose by about 2ft.[36]

Warwickshire

By 21 July, flooded parts of Warwickshire included Alcester, Stratford-upon-Avon and Water Orton.[37]

South Yorkshire

A road near Meadowhall showing extensive flooding after the River Don burst its banks

Sheffield suffered extensive damage as the River Don over topped its banks causing widespread flooding in the Don Valley area of the city. A 14-year-old boy was swept away by the swollen River Sheaf [38] and a 68 year old man died after attempting to cross a flooded road in Sheffield city centre.[39] The Meadowhall shopping centre was closed due to flooding and Sheffield Wednesday's ground Hillsborough was under 2 feet (0.6 m) of water. A number of people had to be rescued by RAF helicopters from buildings in the Brightside area, whilst in Dore to the southwest of the city the River Sheaf overtopped its banks causing widespread damage and panic.[citation needed] There was also widespread flooding in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham with much of these towns cut off.

Over 700 villagers near the Ulley reservoir near Rotherham were evacuated after cracks appeared in the dam.[40] Emergency services from across England pumped millions of gallons of water from the reservoir to ease the pressure on the damaged dam, and the nearby M1 Motorway was closed between junctions 32 and 36 as a precaution.[41]

Worcestershire

A 68-year-old motorist died after he was trapped in his vehicle in flood water near Pershore whilst attempting to cross a ford.[42] On 26 June 2007 the New Road Ground, home to Worcestershire County Cricket Club, was flooded after the River Severn overtopped its banks, causing the next day's Twenty20 match against Warwickshire to be cancelled.[43] Rubbernecking caused extensive tailbacks on the M5 Motorway, compounded by the closure of the Strensham services. Some people were forced to sleep in their cars overnight. Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, remained cut-off due to the flood.[44]

Herefordshire

The M50 motorway was closed on 22 July due toflooding.[45]More than 5200 people in and around Bromyard, Herefordshire were without clean water on 22 and 23 July after the pumps at the Whitbourne works in Herefordshire failed. Once supply was restored residents were urged by Welsh Water to boil their tap-water until further notice. The village of Hampton Bishop, 3 miles from the city of Hereford remains surrounded and flooded by water after the River Lugg burst its banks. On the afternoon of 24 July the Fire Service began pumping flood water out of the village, but not before 130 residents were evacuated. [46] Houses, including the Herefordshire home of Daily Mail writer Quentin Letts, were flooded by a torrent of water gushing from what had previously been only a small, unnamed brook north of Ross-on-Wye.

Shropshire

Rising River Severn at Ironbridge, Shropshire, 28 June.

On 1 July, 2007 a woman was pulled out of the River Severn at Jackfield near Ironbridge.[47] The UK National Ballooning Championships in Shropshire due to take place in the end of July have been cancelled for the first time in their 32-year history.[48]

Lincolnshire

  • Lincoln affected by flooding - many people had to be rescued from a block of flats, Brayford Pool becomes seriously high.
  • River Bain floods along most of its course:-
    • Kirkby-On-Bain flooded in both nation-wide "floodings"; fields turned into lakes, most homes flooded.
  • Huge puddles spread across, and still are across, most fields across the county damaging most of the crops. Up to 40% of the Pea harvest has been ruined. Food prices are predicted to rise.
  • Although it didn't flood, the county's biggest river, the Witham river became dangerously high, just a few inches (several centimetres) from the top of the banks. If it had flooded, due to the geography of the region, it would have created a 20-mile (32 km) wide lake, paralysing the county's transport.
  • After torrential rains on Friday, 20 July, Louth and Horncastle were affected by the flood. Fire crews continued on Monday to pump out flood water.[44]

Berkshire

Flooding outside Thatcham railway station on 20 July.

Reading, Newbury and Maidenhead town centres were flooded. The shopping mall in Maidenhead was closed. Officials warned that the River Thames, the River Ock, and its tributaries from Charney could burst their banks.[44] The flood waters affected the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield, which handles Britain's nuclear warheads.

West Midlands

200 people were forced to leave Witton Road and Tame Road in Aston,Birmingham when the River Tame flooded. Water entered the streets of Shirley,Solihull.[44]

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

70 homes and businesses were flooded by the River Ouse in Buckingham and 30 people spent the night in the town's Radcliffe centre.[44] The Ouse also burst its banks and flooded Stony Stratford High Street (in Milton Keynes) but did not cause significant disruption.[49]

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is the worst-affected county. It is expected that the number of people left without water supplies will reach 420,000 on Tuesday, 24 July, including most of the population of Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Tewkesbury.[44] Road access to Tewkesbury is cut off, and flood waters entered Tewkesbury Abbey for the first time in 247 years.[50]

48,000 homes in Gloucestershire have had electricity supplies restored by 24 July.[44] 900 bowsers were mobilised to provide drinking water supplies. The Army were also distributing three million bottles of water a day. Severn Trent Water is not expecting mains water supplies to be operational from at least fourteen days due to treatment works falling victim to the flooding.[51]

Oxfordshire

Many rivers burst their banks, including both the Thames and the Cherwell in Oxford, the Thames and the Ock in Abingdon, the Cherwell in Banbury, and the Windrush and Evenlode in Witney, flooding some 3,000 homes (See Witney Flood Gallery for photos of the flooding in Witney). Many villages along the bank of the Thames were also affected. Some 600 residents have been forced to evacuate, and many are taking refuge in Oxford's Kassam Stadium. The home of William Morris at Kelmscott is amongst the hundreds of properties affected by the flooding. The city of Oxford itself faced widespread flooding as the waterlevel of the Thames (known as the Isis in Oxford) rose. Some 300 people were evacuated, the worst affected part of the city being Botley.

Cambridgeshire

Residents in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire are bracing themselves for large-scale flooding on the 25 July and 26 July as waters rise at the River Great Ouse, the Environment Agency has stated.[52] Emergency crews have been on standby in the St. Neots area and low-lying fens since 21 July, with warnings the river levels will peak in Cambridgeshire.

Lancashire

On 30 June residents in Penwortham, and Lostock Hall suffered flood damage due to increased rain fall. [53]

Flooding timeline

12-13 June: Northern Ireland

Flooding occurred across Northern Ireland, with Belfast being particularly affected. Connswater shopping centre closed after water poured through ceiling vents. Numerous schools and places of work closed, and 80 residents of an old peoples' home in East Belfast had to be evacuated.[54] Water entered the Stormont Parliament and activated its fire alarm system.

15-23 June: Scotland, the North and West

A slow-moving frontal system affected Northern England on 14 June with the peak rainfall on 15 June. Rainfall records were broken across the region and the Met Office at RAF Leeming recorded 69.6 mm in a 24 hour period.[citation needed]

By 15 June, towns and villages in North Yorkshire were flooded, with Knaresborough, Harrogate and York being particularly affected. In Scarborough, the main A171 Scalby Road flooded outside Scarborough Hospital, and the ornamental lake at Peasholm Park overtopped its banks and poured down Peasholm Gap into North Bay. Near Catterick, North Yorkshire, a 17 year old soldier on a training exercise from Catterick Garrison died after being swept away whilst crossing Risedale Beck, Hipswell Moor.[55] In County Durham, heavy rainfall caused the postponement of the fourth test match between England and the West Indies at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street.

By 19 June, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire were affected by flooding.[56] The Severn Valley Railway was closed after numerous landslips on the line.[57] Repair costs to the railway were estimated at £2 million.[58]

On 22 June, thunderstorms in the Glasgow area caused flash flooding. Flood debris dumped on the main line between Glasgow and Edinburgh near Glasgow Queen Street railway station disrupted the rail network.[59]

On 23 June, A slow-moving line of thunderstorms developed across eastern England leading to flash flooding in places including Darlington and Middlesbrough.[60]

24-27 June: North, Midlands and West

Heavy rainfall on 24 and 25 June added to the already high river levels and caused widespread flooding across many parts of England and Wales, with the Midlands, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, South, West and East Yorkshire the most affected. Gales along the east coast also caused storm damage. RAF Fylingdales on the North Yorkshire Moors reported rainfall totals of 103 mm in 24 hours, an estimated 100 mm in Hull and 77 mm on Emley Moor in West Yorkshire. The average monthly total for June for the whole UK is 72.6 mm.[61]

At least three people were killed by the flooding. Thousands had to leave their homes and the road and rail networks were severely disrupted.

Flooding in King's Park, in Retford as a result of the River Idle overtopping its banks, taken on 27 June

By 26 June, the waters in some parts of Sheffield and the surrounding area had receded, but the immense amount of water trying to escape down Ulley reservoir's spillway was eroding it, and fears over cracks caused an evacuation downstream. The nearby M1 motorway had to be closed. In Worcestershire and Shropshire the waters were still rising, endangering the confluence of the River Teme and the River Severn. A bridge collapsed on the main road into Ludlow in Shropshire, severing a gas main and causing the surrounding area to be evacuated. In North Wales, a man was rescued by fire services after he was stranded on a small island in the River Dee in Llangollen.

On 27 June, new flooding occurred at Retford after the River Idle overtopped its banks. The army moved into the Doncaster area after the River Don overtopped its banks and threatened the Thorpe Marsh Power Station. A man was incorrectly reported missing near the village of Adwick le Street near Doncaster.[62] The Met Office released an early warning of severe weather for the approaching weekend, stating that 20 to 50 mm of rain could fall in some areas, raising the possibility of more flooding within the already saturated flood plains.

17-19 July: North and West

On 17 July, Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire was flooded for the second time in three weeks after a thunderstorm caused flash flooding.[63]

On 18 July, a thunderstorm left parts of Filey in North Yorkshire under 3 feet (1 m) of water. Pensioners were stranded in the town's swimming pool and rescued by lifeboat.[64]

On 19 July, thunderstorms caused flash flooding in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and County Durham.[65] A 64 year old man injured his head and died after trying to bail out his flooded home in Alston, Cumbria.[66]

20-21 July: South and West

On 20 July, another active frontal system moved across Southern England and by 21 July, many towns and villages were flooded, with Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, London and South Wales facing the brunt of the heavy rainfall. In Berkshire, Reading, Newbury and Maidenhead town centres and parts of the Glade Festival were flooded. In Oxfordshire, Banbury was badly flooded.[67] In Wiltshire, Swindon received a month's rainfall in less than half a day.[68] In South Wales, Barry firefighters used boats to rescue people from their homes. Parts of South West London were under 2 feet (1 m) of water.

Transport was severely affected. Heathrow Airport cancelled 141 flights. The M4 motorway was closed after a landslide left only one lane passable on the eastbound carriageway.[69] The M5 motorway in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire was closed, stranding hundreds of motorists in their vehicles overnight.[70] The M50 motorway near Ledbury was closed. Westbound trains from Paddington travelled no farther than Reading. Rail services to Birmingham, Coventry, Derby and the Southwest were affected by flooded lines. Two of four rail lines in South Croydon were closed by landslips.[3] The London Underground was severely disrupted and 25 stations were closed.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service reported 1,800 calls in an 18 hour period. Normally they receive 8,000 in a year.[71]

22 July

File:Floods gloucester.JPG
Gloucester Docks and the river nearly bursting its banks.

Flooding continued in Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

More than a thousand people spent a second night in emergency shelters. Tewkesbury was completely cut off with parts of the town under around 3 feet (1 m) of water. 1500 people in Abingdon were evacuated after the Environment Agency warned of further flooding to the town. Gloucester City A.F.C.'s Stadium was flooded.

Forty thousand sandbags were transported from Grantham in Lincolnshire to avert flooding in Abingdon and Oxford. A water treatment plant near Tewkesbury was flooded, threatening supplies to around a third of a million people, and Severn Trent Water warned that treated water would run out by early Sunday evening in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester. 150,000 homes in Gloucestershire had already lost their water supply after Tewkesbury's Mythe Water Treatment Works was flooded.[72] Emergency services tried to stop floods reaching the Walham electricity substation in Gloucester supplying half a million people.[73][74]

Seven severe flood warnings were issued. The government convened COBRA to co-ordinate the response to the crisis.[75]

File:Gloscityflood07.jpg
Gloucester City's T-end flooded.

23 July

In Gloucestershire 50,000 homes were left without electricity after a major electricity substation in Castle Meads, Gloucester was turned off due to the flood.[76][74]

Parts of Worcestershire were under 6 feet (2 m) of water and the Army helped emergency services supply the inhabitants of Upton-on-Severn. Warwickshire and Berkshire were also badly affected. Some homes in Oxford, Abingdon, Kidlington and Bladon were already flooded.

There were nine severe warnings issued by the Environment Agency: five in the Midlands for the River Avon and River Severn between Evesham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester, three in Oxfordshire from Eynsham to Abingdon, and one in Bedfordshire for the River Great Ouse from Turvey to Sharnbrook.[44]

24 July

As of 02:00 BST, the Environment Agency's National Flood Summary for England and Wales website had seven severe flood warnings in place. One was for the River Great Ouse (from Turvey to Sharnbrook), three for the River Severn (at Gloucester, between Worcester and Tewkesbury, and from Tewkesbury to upstream of Gloucester), one for the River Ock and its tributaries (from Charney Bassett to Abingdon), and two for the River Thames (from Eynsham Lock to Sandford Lock, and from Sandford Lock to Day's Lock).

The flood waters stopped just short of entering the Walham energy substation, which serves half a million homes, and more serious damage to power supplies was averted.[74][77]

In Abingdon, the Thames rose 3 feet (0.9 m) in less than 12 hours to a "perilously high" level.[77] The Thames and the Severn are expected to rise to 20 feet (6.1 m) higher than normal.[74]

Emergency services continued repair work at Tewkesbury's Mythe water-treatment works to return water supplies to 350,000 people in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham. Meanwhile, the fire service and military pumped flood waters that threatened the Walham substation.[78]

The Great Ouse claimed one life in Bedford.[79]

25 July

As of 02:22 BST, the BBC reported there were severe flood warnings in place for the River Severn (Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester), the River Thames (Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little Wittenham) and the River Ock (Charney Bassett to Abingdon).[80] Some residents of Osney in west Oxford were advised to leave their homes.

Aftermath

Rescue effort

Following the flooding in late June, the rescue effort was described by the Fire Brigades Union as the "biggest in peacetime Britain". [7] Following the flooding in July, the RAF said it is carrying out its biggest ever peacetime rescue operation, with six Sea King helicopters from as far afield as RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, RAF Valley in Anglesey and RAF Leconfield in the East Riding of Yorkshire rescuing up to 120 people.[8][9][10][11][81] An RAF heavy lift Chinook helicopter was also employed to move aggregate to reinforce the banks of the River Don.[82] The Environment Agency describes the situation as "critical".[11]

Crop damage

The floods caused widespread crop damage, especially broccoli, carrots, peas and potatoes. In parts of Lincolnshire it was estimated that 40% of the pea crop may have been damaged, with other crops also suffering major losses. Prices of vegetables were expected to rise in the following months.[83]

Financial cost

Following the floods, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced that the government would increase the spending on risk management and flood defences by £200 million to £800 million by 2010-11.[84] Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young said that about £1bn a year was needed to improve flood defences. The Association of British Insurers has said the total bill for the June and July floods could reach £2bn.

Criticism of Hull Council

Hull Council was criticised for not insuring the city's libraries, schools and other public building. In response, Hull Council said that "Many councils do not have the feature in their budget"[citation needed], but other flood-hit councils were insured. It was thought that council tax payers would be left with the bill, as emergency Government funding would not cover it.

Criticism of Government response

In June, councillors in Hull claimed that the city was being forgotten and had the floods occurred in the Home Counties, help would have arrived much more quickly. One in five homes in Hull was damaged and 90 out of the city's 105 schools suffered some damage. Damage to the schools alone was estimated to cost £100 million. The Bellwin Scheme for providing aid after natural disasters was criticised as inadequate by Hull MP Diana Johnson.[85] The lack of media coverage of flooding in Kingston upon Hull led the city council leader Carl Minns to dub Hull "the forgotten city".

In July, the Government came under mounting criticism of its handling of the crisis, the fact that responsibilities were spread across four departments and no single minister could be held responsible, and the fact that the Army had not been called in to assist.[86]

The Observer newspaper stated on 22 July 2007 that the Government had been warned in the spring by the Met Office that summer flooding would be likely because the El Niño phenomenon had weakened, but no action was taken.[87]

In response to the criticism, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said on the BBC's Sunday AM programme that "This was very, very intense rainfall, with five inches in 24 hours in some areas; even some of the best defences are going to be overwhelmed". He praised the way the emergency services had dealt with "unprecedented" levels of rainfall and said he had "total confidence" in the response of the Environment Agency.

Conservative leader David Cameron called for a public inquiry into the flooding after visiting Witney, the main town in his Oxfordshire constituency.[88]

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell accused the government of lack of preparation leading to a "summer of suffering", and said, "With sophisticated weather forecasting as we now have, particularly in relation to what’s happened over the weekend, there are quite a few questions as to how it was that flood-prevention measures were not in place or were not more effective."[89]

References

  1. ^ "Three dead following flood chaos". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Firth, Fiona (27 June 2007). "Yes this is the wettest month ever - it's official". The Star. Sheffield Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Flash floods and torrents of rain hit first exodus of Summer". The Times. Times Online. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Floods crisis hits one million Britons". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Floods crisis hits one million Britons". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Three Flood insurance bills will breach £2bn". Yahoo Finance News. Yahoo. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b "Flood Centre set up for weekend". BBC News Online. BBC. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b "WATERWORLD; Biggest peacetime rescue by RAF". Gulf Times. Gulf Times. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b "More flooding on the way, minister warns". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "The threat of worse to come as waters surge down river". The Times. The Times. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b c d "Flood crisis grows as rivers rise". BBC News Online. BBC. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Rescue mission for a nation under water". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Chaos as heavy rain brings floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Four more days to pump flood water from homes in Doncaster This is London, accessed July 3, 2007
  15. ^ "Why has it been so wet?". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  16. ^ "Soldier found dead after floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Soldier killed in floods named". BBC News Online. BBC. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Funding call as flood death toll rises to six". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Flooding victim was 'left to die'". BBC News Online. BBC. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Family tribute to flood death boy". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Flood-hit UK braced for more rain". BBC News Online. BBC. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Flooding victim dies in hospital". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Heath, Richard (26 June 2007). "Two die in city floods". The Star. Sheffield Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Floods force thousands from homes". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "Judge dies as car caught in flood". BBC News Online. BBC. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "Woman's body pulled out of Severn". BBC News Online. BBC. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Tragic death of flooding victim". Newcastle Journal. NCJ Media. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Flood victim named". Wigan Today. Lancashire Publications Ltd. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Twins die after flood rescue bid". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "Body of man recovered from river". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Flood-hit UK braced for more rain". BBC News Online. BBC. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "Flood rescue crews 'working to point of collapse'". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "Canal dinghy death man identified". BBC News Online. BBC. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "Man Trapped in Flooded Drain Dies". Sky News. BSkyB. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Man rescues elderly flood victims". BBC News Online. BBC. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Clean-up after town hit by flood". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Your pictures: Warwickshire floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ "Family tribute to flood death boy". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ Heath, Richard (26 June 2007). "Two die in city floods". The Star. Sheffield Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "Dam 'stable' after burst worries". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Dam families' second night away". BBC News Online. BBC. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Driver swept away in floods". The Birmingham Post. Midland Newspapers Ltd. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ "Severn floods ground at New Road". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h "Floods: At-a-glance". BBC News Online. BBC. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ M50 flooding: BBC photo
  46. ^ "Roads reopening in cut off towns". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ "Woman's body pulled out of Severn". BBC News Online. BBC. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ "Flood crisis operation launched". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=415&articleid=3051918
  50. ^ Tewkesbury Abbey website Flooding at Tewkesbury Abbey, July 2007
  51. ^ "Flood crisis operation launched". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/6913169.stm
  53. ^ http://www.lep.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=73&articleid=2995278 New flood warnings for Lancashire
  54. ^ 30 rescued in Belfast floods BBC News accessed June 28, 2007
  55. ^ "Soldier found dead after floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ "Flash floods hit homes and roads". BBC News Online. BBC. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ "Floods shut part of steam railway". BBC News Online. BBC. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "SVR repair bill to hits £2m". Express & Star. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ "Glasgow flooding causes severe disruption". BBC News Online. BBC. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ "Flooding Chaos as storms hit region". The Northern Echo. Newsquest Media Group . 23 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ^ Northern England hit hardest by midsummer flooding BBC Weather News, accessed June 28, 2007
  62. ^ "Disruption continues after floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ "Tenbury Wells mops up after latest floods". Worcester News. July 18 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  64. ^ "Flash floods hit east coast town". BBC. BBC Online. July 18 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ "Villages are hit by flash floods misery". The Northern Echo. Newsquest Media Group. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  66. ^ "Tragic death of flooding victim". Newcastle Journal. NCJ Media. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  67. ^ "Floods wreak havoc in Banbury". Banbury Guardian. Johnston press. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ "County mops up after heavy rain". BBC News. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ "Rescue teams tackle flood chaos". BBC News Online. BBC. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ "Hundreds stranded in flood chaos". Guardian. Guardian Unlimited. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ "Water runs out in flood-hit areas water". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  72. ^ "Flood crisis grows as rivers rise". BBC News Online. BBC. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  73. ^ "Benn defends response to floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  74. ^ a b c d "10,000 homes flooded, 50,000 without power and 150,000 have no water". The Times. The Times. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ "UK ministers travel to flood area". Financial Times. Financial Times. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ "Residents braced for more floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ a b "Floods crisis hits one million Britons". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ "Flood crisis operation launched". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  79. ^ "Body of man recovered from river". BBC News Online. BBC. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  80. ^ "Flood crisis operation launched". BBC News Online. BBC. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  81. ^ "RAF Responded to 51 operations from the central Midlands in the last 24 hours warns". RAF. Ministry of Defence. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ "RAF Chinook heavy lift helicopter helps with the flood relief". Royal Air Force. July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  83. ^ "Extra funds won't help flooded farmers". Farmers Guardian. Farmers Guardian. 5 July, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ "Benn pledges £200m flood defence increase". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ "Hull pleads for aids after floods leave one in five homes damaged". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ "Floods continue to cause disruption". ITV News. ITV Network Limited. 22 July, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  87. ^ "Met Office warned months ago about risk of flooding". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian Newspapers. 22 July, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  88. ^ "Benn defends response to floods". BBC News Online. BBC. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  89. ^ "Thousands cut off in Britain's worst floods". The Times. The Times. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

See also

Wikinews has related news:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2007_United_Kingdom_floods&oldid=147043843"