Flood warnings as more rain forecast
Britain's weather woes continued today with warnings of localised flooding as alerts were issued on Midland rivers.
Britain's weather woes continued today with warnings of localised flooding as alerts were issued on Midland rivers.
Rising temperatures and rain thawed much of the snow which fell last week but in some areas the ground remains frozen beneath the surface, meaning excess water will run into rivers instead of being absorbed by the soil.
The Environment Agency issued several flood warnings as rain threatened to cause rivers to burst their banks.
The River Severn was among those at risk, with flood warnings between Worcester and Tewkesbury, including Upton-upon-Severn and Kempsey, and down to Gloucester. But Agency spokeswoman Emily Poyser said the river levels were stabilising and should be reaching their peak.
"However with more rain expected later in the week we would ask people to remain vigilant and keep an eye on our website," she said.
People who live in areas under a flood warning are urged to move cars, pets, food and valuables to a safe place, get any flood protection equipment in place, and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Those with a 'flood watch' on their town should stay vigilant, monitoring water levels and weather forecasts, and get a flood action plan in place to use if needed.
Levels were being monitored on other stretches of the River Severn, including Bewdley and Stourport, and on the River Sow and the River Penk through Stafford and Cannock, although no flood warnings have yet been issued there.
But people living along the River Avon River Avon from Hereford To Ross On Wye and the River Leam at Leamington Spa should remain vigilant, Miss Poyser said.
It comes after the Environment Agency issued a warning over the price of more flooding in the future, as it released a report calculating the summer 2007 floods cost the UK £3.2 billion.
The report, published two months after the latest devastating floods which hit Cumbria in November, shows the economic impacts of flooding on every area of life. The November floods also caused Bewdley's historic bridge to be closed to traffic because of safety risks posed by rising water levels on the River Severn.
According to the Environment Agency review, households and businesses incurred around two thirds of the total costs of the flooding, with the average cost for each flooded home between £23,000 and £30,000 and the cost for flooded businesses averaging between £75,000 and £112,000.
The EA said while 95 per cent of businesses were covered by insurance, a quarter of affected homeowners were not fully insured. Spokeswoman Sharon Robinson added: "If someone's property is flooded it can be costly. Many people have still not signed up for our flood warning service, which gives people vital warning that their homes and businesses might flood."
