Prime Minister David Cameron will chair a call of the COBRA emergency committee as the floods
cause chaos for families during the Christmas holiday season. Hundreds of flood warnings are in place around the country, with 31 of them severe, signalling a risk to life.
Environment Secretary Liz Truss said that the amount of rain had been ‘unprecedented’.
“We’re still in a situation with major flood warnings. People need to look at the latest advice from the Environment Agency, from the emergency services,” she added.
“That’s really important because in many places we have not yet reached the high point,” she said.
Police have advised up to 400 people to evacuate their homes and move possessions to the upper floors of their homes near rivers in York. Hundreds of people have also been evacuated from other parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire and the army has been drafted in to help with the flood response.
Over 7,000 homes in Greater Manchester and Lancashire were also without electricity due to flood damage. With its cobbled streets and timbered buildings, York is one of Britain’s top tourist attractions.
It has a rich history dating back to Roman times and is home to one of Europe’s finest cathedrals, which is about 800 years old. Lisa Pallister, 36, decided to leave her home in York with her family as flood waters rose. “We didn’t think it would reach us because we’re raised off the ground and have three storeys but, by this morning, it was on the steps and it is going to rise by lunchtime. So we had a boat ride out,” she said.
Heavy rain has caused more flooding in northern England, with homes evacuated in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and rivers overflowing in Manchester and Leeds. Vulnerable people are being evacuated from 2,200 homes in York, where people in 3,500 properties near the River Foss have been advised to be ready to leave. Six severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - are in place.
Met Office warnings of further rainfall are in place for northern England, Scotland and Wales. In total, hundreds of flood alerts and warnings have been issued - more than 30 of them severe.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “My thoughts are with people whose homes have been flooded.
“I’ll chair a COBRA (emergency committee) call to ensure everything is being done to help.”
The River Irwell and River Roch have both overflowed, causing flooding in Salford, Manchester city centre and Rochdale.
Roads in central Leeds, where a severe warning is in place on the River Aire, are also under water.