Afternoon:
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Flood alert for central London as Thames waters rise
Mark Blunden11.02.09
Parts of central London were at risk of flooding today as the Thames threatened to burst its banks, government experts warned.
The Environment Agency issued 55 flood alerts along the Thames, warning that flooding of low-lying land and roads was expected.
The Thames Barrier was also likely to be raised again today.
“Flood watches” issued along the London stretch of the Thames are just one step down from the full-scale warnings where water threatens properties.
The worst affected areas in London are likely to be from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weir, while river banks between Loughton and Barking are also likely to suffer flooding.
London-wide alerts follows waist-high water across Essex last night which forced mass evacuations of residents and motorists. Emergency services were inundated with calls as flood waters caused havoc across the county.
From Clacton to Southend and Basildon to Maldon, rivers burst their banks as a month's rainfall fell in 24 hours.
One woman in her fifties was left stranded in swirling, muddy waist-high waters for several hours after the River Chelmer broke its banks in Little Baddow, just outside Chelmsford.
Stephen Huntley, a photographer who witnessed her rescue, said: “Police in a 4x4 couldn't get to her because the current was so strong. The fire brigade had to push an inflatable boat out to her.”
Evacuations occurred across the county and around 200 roads were flooded, with many made impassable after their surfaces broke up, stranding motorists.
The Can also burst its banks, while the Colne swelled to within an inch of its banks. In Chingford, part of the Lea burst and residents were rescued by boat.
Essex county fire and rescue service received more than 300 calls — the daily average is 20 — and put every engine into service as melting snow mixed with torrential rain.
Fire crews pumped back water, rescued stranded motorists and residents and packed sandbags.
The Met Office said 29mm of rain fell in Shoeburyness, when the Essex average for the whole of February is just 40mm.
Bungalows in Clacton were flooded overnight and residents were taken to emergency centres set up in the town.
Richard Warren, emergency planning officer at Tendring council, said: “Sandbags were taken out to the homes from our depot.”
The Met Office said the weather was improving today, but there was a risk of wintry showers, with spells of rain likely at the weekend.
• Two Police Community Support Officers were praised today for rescuing a man from drowning in Camden Lock in icy conditions. One officer partially entered the canal to pull the victim out and the pair then gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The officers were on patrol on Saturday when they were told the man had fallen in and not resurfaced. The 22-year-old man is in a critical condition.
