BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)

Subject: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:31 PM

I've just seen the news with films of the heavy flooding in various parts of the country, particularly Yorkshire and Lincolnshire but also Devon, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and apparently other places are also suffering. Are all 'Catters from the badly hit areas ok?

We seem to have missed the worst so far in Leicestershire. More rain is forecast for overnight.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:37 PM

Lynne,
We are ok here in South Wales,ta for your concern.



Kind Regards.
Yasmin.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Rasener
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:02 PM

We are OK in Market Rasen Lincs, although some of the roads are a bit flooded. I guess we have to see what tonight brings.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: The Barden of England
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:09 PM

It rained quite a bit of the weekend here in Kent, but no flooding. Our fellow 'catters furher north and west do seem to have had a nasty time of it though.
John Barden

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:09 PM

It's fine where I am in Harrogate although some of the roads are a bit flooded. There are problems in Leeds city centre.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:10 PM

Wind's getting up rather a lot here, which will make things even more unpleasant

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:17 PM

Wakefield centre was under two foot of water. Our school closed tomorrow and journey home was slow. Daughter still hasn't made it as she left later than me and has been on the bus for over an hour and only gone 2 miles. Noone hurt though.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:21 PM

Also Lincolnshire Gainsborough) and O.K here at the moment

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 02:25 PM

The wind's getting up here too and there is more rain forecast. My husband hasn't left work yet (outskirts of Leeds). He reckons it's OK because he has a 4-wheel drive. I'm not sure they're that good - I just give up!

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Rasener
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:00 PM

Sheffield looks bad as per this news flash

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1272242,00.html

I hope they all get rescued safe and sound.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:06 PM

Flooded roads in the Vale of Belvoir, but got home okay. Getting to London tomorrow sounds like it's gonna be fun...

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:11 PM

got some friends doing a recording session at The Works Studio in Leeds today which is belowground level. I bet its like a fish tank in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: nutty
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:14 PM

It makes me feel lucky that I live at the seaside - at least we have somewhere for the water to go.

It's the concrete jungles that are bearing the brunt of the flooding as the drainage systems are not designed to cope with this amount of water.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Pistachio
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:20 PM

It's the worst I've ever seen in 19 years here in Beverley, East Yorks.
Roads like lakes, lots of flooded houses nearby but I'm able to report I'm still 'dry'. Thanks for concern. Helpful having a drainage ditch behind my back hedge!
My husband has just left for a job at East Midlands Airport tomorrow ...(It's 8pm UK time)and he's heading out a different route as the villages between us and the M62 are not yet clear.
Actually he's already been re-directed by the police into Hull and then out the M62. It'll be a long cautious drive. I believe the bad weather is still threatening around M18/M1 so he's going to call me later. Thank goodness for hands free mobile phones.
Looking down my road now I can see the centre line markings which were under 8" of water earlier today. It's receeding yippee.
For those who know Linda Kelly... she lives at No 25 and is dry... but no 29 is being 'pumped out now'! Some of us are so lucky. Best wishes to all.
Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Rasener
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:34 PM

Time for the sea shanty festival me thinks HissyFit :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:37 PM

Helpful sandbag hint-fill old cushion covers or pillowcass with old towels jumpers etc-worked for me garden flooded but house dry rest of the houses in our road under water but slowly drying out-extensive flooding in Hull and East Riding manned the emergency flood line absolutely manic -some people have really copped for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Rasener
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 04:33 PM

Friends of ours just had a nightmare journey home from Market Rasen to Grimsby/Cleethorpes - Lincolnshire.
The rain is supposed to stop by midnight and tomorrow and Wednesday should be nice. Lets hope they have that right.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 04:41 PM

see my thread here for a local view of Sheffield.

But it is finishing now.....

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 04:44 PM

Barely a puddle's worth here in east London. However, there are some dark grey clouds rattling in from the north west so I suspect we'll be getting it later.

Hope everyone is safe and well.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 04:48 PM

Things are quite bad here on the Yorks/Notts border but so far we're OK. Had to ring British Waterways today though as the Chesterfield Canal wasn't coping and our local pound had gone over the towpath onto the road. The roads are flowing like streams.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Bainbo
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 05:20 PM

Next door has a young Russian girl staying, pat of a party which comes every year from the Chernobyl region. (Things are still pretty bad there - breathing uncontaminated air and eating uncontaminated food for a few weeks extends their life expectancy.)

What a day for them to land. A 400-mile journey to get to the airport in Russia, then the flight to Manchester - and then crossing the Pennines on the M62, their coach pushing waves of water ahead of it. Still, they've arrived here in North East England safe and sound, but absolutely shattered. We seem to have missed the worst of the rain, but the wind's bashing the trees about a bit.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: brid widder
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 05:54 PM

We have a basement bar in Hull & spent the afternoon watching the water rise til it was ankle deep throughout... we moved what we could but don't know if we will lose our equipment... are not really looking forward to going in tomorrow... we have no idea how long it will be before we can re-open... nevertheless we are safe ...others are less fortunate. Hull has been very badly hit.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: terrier
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 06:05 PM

After the fiasco of a few years ago when the river Alyn got deeper and deeper and eventually flooded Mold, North Wales,we seem in pretty good shape this year, although, going to work this morning driving down the hill towards the Alyn, the rain water was spurting vertically OUT of the grids.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:19 AM

Well it's a lovely morning here, if a bit breezy. Sunshine and no sign of rain. It's even gone from the road outside, though as we are on the side of a hill, that happens more or less as sson as it stops raining. Don't think it rained much in the night and our rain gauge shows only .7 of an inch in the last 24 hours. Forecast 've just seen shows sunshine until Friday then rain on Saturday. Great. Just in time for us to go to a wet and soggy Royal show on Sunday.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:24 AM

Ascot, Wimbledon and the school fete - of course it was going to rain this weekend!

East London is still fairly dry, no sign of an ark being erected yet and definately no squirty drains.

If you can spare a thought for wildlife, leave some cat food out for the hedgehogs and other little critters - their usual food is probably halfway to Ireland by now. Make sure you fill your bird feeders too, as the rain will have washed away most of the insects and seeds they rely on at this time of year.

My tits are damp, but still bouncing around.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:03 AM

Minor damage so far. Garage is flooding a bit, and had to be like the boy with the finger in the dam in the house the other day... Water was pouring down the kitchen wall - blocked guttering meant water was being pushed up under the eaves and then down the walls inside. Lovely!

Caught it in time though. Have hopefully stopped the garage from flooding again by cutting a small V in to the concrete in the front of the garage to act as a guttering to rechannel the water. Which will mean that now the patio will get blocked, but better that than the garage.

We also have some rather worrying sinking bits behind a retaining wall. Gulp!

EWIS in South Wales

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: skipy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 05:01 AM

Wantage area of Oxfordshire is dry, odd because the A417 is prone to flooding even with normal ammounts of rain! They must have got something right this time.
Good luck to you all.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 05:13 AM

Woke up to bright sunshine in Sheffield - seems to have calmed down, cold and windy but otherwise OK.

Little traffic moving around so people are being sensible and staying at home. Still some helicopters clattering overhead.

I am going out to take some pictures of the floods.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 05:28 AM

Planning a visit up to the session at the Six Bells in Barrow upon Humber tonight Tuesday...(so happens that fab female morrris team who dance in lacy black basques are supposed to be doing a bit outside.
Co-incidnece really....)

Anybody know what the roads are like round and about? I'll be driving up the A15 from Lincoln, then leaving it last exit before the Bridge in order to cut across to Barrow.

Cheers - Dáithí

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: skipy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:24 AM

so happens that fab female morrris team who dance in lacy black basques are supposed to be doing a bit outside.
Co-incidnece really....)
Tell me more!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:04 AM

Now Skipy..I'm sure it's too far for you to travel isn't it?
However, the Raving Maes are a modern all female (and I mean ALL female)"morris" gang who are based in Hull, Yorkshire. They'll be travelling over the Bridge to barrow tonight to dance, and then there's usually a session at the pub every Tuesday anyway..the main reason i'm going, of course...
D

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: skipy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:22 AM

Too far to travel, yes, too far to google - no!
Skipy
p.s. just watched them on you tube!

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:32 AM

Give us a link you swine......

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: The PA
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:59 AM

Our part of Worcestershire seems fairly trouble free, but I know others villages are having a hard time. The Severn Valley Railway has taken a battering - well at least some of the track anyway, its been washed away.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 08:14 AM

Mixed fortunes out here in the Backwoods of Lincolnshire - Louth seems to have had it bad, but I'm OK living, as I do, at the top of a hill.

Mind you, tempest, fire and flood's all we perverted Backwoodsmen deserve, isn't it Diane?

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 01:04 PM

I'm glad I don't live near Rotherham! Sounds as if three villages will be submerged if the damn they are trying to pump out gives way.

I thought the worst was over but, of course, rivers continue to rise after the rain stops. I heard on the way home this evening that there are still 150 flood warnings throughout UK. And lots more rain to come over the next few weeks.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:22 PM

It strikes me that the pumping out is causing as much trouble as if the dam broke see http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30000-1272417,00.html


A picture from Beverly on the front page of the Express today

http://www.express.co.uk/ourpaper/view/2007-06-26

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: skipy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 05:13 PM

Just watching the news, Blitz mentality is alive & well in Sheffield, good luck to them all, wish I could help in someway.
Is one of those far to rare moments to be proud to be British!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 05:57 PM

just watching from the USA...as you all did when Katrina flooded the South here.

Sending dry thoughts and hoping everyones finds safety.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:29 PM

Definitely proud to be a sheffielder.......

But then I always was....

Down b't Wicker wear t'watter runs o'ert weir has taken on a new meaning.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:38 PM

Anyone out there from Selby who can give me a report? The ceilidh band I work in has a gig at the Selby Rowing Club on Saturday.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: skipy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:42 PM

It's a rowing club, no problems they will get them to the building, may have to be acoustic!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:46 PM

Do not take chances. Even two or three feet of rushing water can be fatal. Every storm here some fool tries to drive through flooded roadways and others have to endanger their lives to save them...if they are lucky.
The last two storms, a Grandma tried to wade through water to get the kids home and she and the babies drowned. It's not worth it. Wait out the flooding safe and dry. Return home when it is safe.
Mother SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: skipy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:22 PM

SINS, that a really sad story, hope it never repeats.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: bill\sables
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 08:44 PM

Selby is still dry unlike York. Kings Arms underwater again there is a story going around that they are going to change the name to the Divers Arms. Greycap, it is Selby Bowling Club but by Saturday it could be Selby Swiming Club, Bring your wellies

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 04:03 AM

Bill D, it made me realize, reading your post, that perhaps we should be counting our blessings. What we have here is absolutley nothing compared with Katrina. Though it may not feel like that to the people whose homes have been flooded.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 04:59 AM

For real ale lovers - the Don Valley Beer Trail is now a Don Valley Beer Cruise.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 07:59 AM

I'm safe and well here, though others are not so lucky, ( 1 man drowned in Hull alrady).
My road was completely flooded, but luckily I live in a first floor apartment, so all my stuff stayed dry.

Much of Hull is still under water and and the City Hall is been used as an emergency evacuation centre, for the people whose homes have been flooded.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:01 AM

All Kelham Island Brewery's beer reportd as spoiled.Obviously not that already delivered - make the most of it!

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:14 AM

Can we help any of the ones who are suffering by raffles in folk clubs etc etc.I would be the first to contribute something to our members of Mudcat.




Scooby.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:55 AM

I have been working on the East Rinding emergency floodline-quite manic as you can imagine-but still a lot of people wondering if their bins were going to be emptied the next day-and one call from a man in Hessle who phoned us because the police had told him they couldn't spare anyone to help him rescue his Koi Carp so could we send someone urgently!

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 12:05 PM

Good to hear everyone is OK.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,Mrs Olive Whatnoll
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 12:46 PM

Cor, it's been bloody awful! We 'ad made wot I now see as a serious error in judgement. We moved back to 'Ull this spring. It seemed loik a good idea at the time. Me cousin Ethel 'ad a flat for us wot was cheap and conveniently located, bein' close to shopping and all.

Then came this 'orrible weather! I knew we was in for a bad blow, but I 'ad no idea just 'ow bad it could get. Me Eddie was on the couch in 'is usual position, watching darts on the telly when water started pourin' in under the front door loik a Niagara!

"Bloody 'ell!" I screams. "Eddie, we've got to evacuate! Turn off the damned telly and get up!"

"I'm not movin'," says 'e. "This is the championship round."

"I don't care if it's the bloody coronation of the Queen! Get fecking off the couch, you stupid sod! We're bein' flooded out!"

"Wild 'orses couldn't get me off this couch," 'e replies, 'angin' grimly onto the remote.

By this time the water is up to me ankles and risin'. The cat 'as fled the premises. Me carpets are bein' ruint! Eddie looks down disapprovingly at 'is feet, which are gettin' wet, and says, "Get me that stool, love. I need to put me feet up."

That tore it. I went bleedin' berserk. I stood there screamin' at the stupid git for the next five minutes while the water rose around us, but 'e wouldn't move an inch. 'E just kept glued to 'is damned darts show. When the water reached me waist, I'd 'ad enough.

"Fine, then! Drown, you fool!" I yelled, and I fled for the back door. I emerged to find a veritable torrent of water pourin' through the yard and into the street beside. There is a small tree there and I some'ow managed to drag meself out of the maelstrom and climb up into it, where I found meself in the company of f'hree cats, one of 'em bein' ours. They was all wet f'rough and so was I.

As I watched in 'orror the house was literally lifted off its foundations! The walls shifted and sagged wiv a terrible crunching sound. Then I saw me Eddie, still sittin' on the couch and grippin' the TV remote, come floatin' out roight f'rough the disintegratin' walls of our former dwelling place. 'Is knuckles were white as 'e looked about 'im wiv a very vexed expression on 'is fat face.

"This won't do!" I 'eard 'im say. 'E sounded cross, loik someone 'oo 'as discovered that the toast is burnt.

Roight there before me gobsmacked eyes me 'usband was swept away down the street and out of sight! This could be the end of me Eddie!

Well, I 'ave some good news. 'E survived. It seems that 'e was swept all the way down to the river, still sittin' on 'is couch, and that 'e collided there wiv a barge, causing it to sink. The barge owners say they are going to sue for damages. I say they can go stuff themselves! Eddie and the couch then ran aground on the river bank where 'e was eventually rescued by the army corps of engineers wot got a crane and they 'oisted 'im onto a flatbed trailer and brought 'im back.

Eddie is devastated over the fate of our telly which was lost in the flood. 'E sat for hours, plaintively clickin' the useless remote, and gazin' blankly at the wall. I fink 'e's still in a state of shock.

We are takin' refuge wiv me cousin Ethel for the moment. 'Er telly is unfortunatly not functional. It got wet in the flood. Tempers are getting frayed 'ere, and I fink me Eddie is close to the breakin' point. I 'ave to secure a working telly or there will be 'ell to pay.

- Olive Whatnoll

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: oggie
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 01:41 PM

Workshop and garage both flooded here in Hull, house was OK by less than half an inch or another hour's rain. Machines OK, lost some wood but I got off lightly. House now stinks cos we got two foot of water in the void under the floors but didn't touch the joists. Have alerted insurers anyway because it'll need checking when it settles, not sure if the walls are on solid footers (OK) or clinker (in which case could need underpinning).

Insurance doesn't cover a week's lost production as I can't prove what I would have made in the week so next few weeks will be busy as I try and catch up and do some markets as well.

C'est le vie

Steve Ogden

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:25 PM

Oh my goodness. I haven't read the paper recently and wondered why someone asked me if I had sent my teenaage son (who has just left to go to Europe for a month or so) off to England with his wellies!!!

Warm thoughts to you all who are havng trouble......

(and NO - he didn't take wellies -- so he may have wet tootsies.....)

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 04:24 AM

Flood levels in Worcester were very high yesterday, but the worst problem was with a tributary, the River Teme. It closed off all the roads from Malvern to Worcester yesterday. To get to work , I have to cross both the Teme and the Severn, so I had to stay at home and update my websites and record a new song.
I've seen the Severn flood higher, but nobody can remember such high water levels on the Teme, and people were flooded out who had not expected it.
For me, it was quite a nice day, though we are reconsidering our weekend away. With heavy rain forecast for Saturday, we are not sure we would be able to get back home on Sunday.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 05:01 AM

A mate of mine wrote this:

"I called at the Kelham Island this evening. It was closed but Trevor and Lewis were mopping up and its in a real state. Trevor was talking potentially a couple of weeks (or even more) before he can open again and he says the Gardeners got hit worst than he did being that much closer to the river".

Sheffield City Morris will do some fund-raising for the Gardeners.

The Fat Cat - probably better known as a boozer - will be much the same as the Kelham Island.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 11:18 AM

Commiserations to everyone caught by this - even those who habve been silly enough to buy houses built on low lying areas next to rivers which should have been recognised as flood plains.

I never understand why when the y do developments on flood plains the don't dig canals and treat the area as a kind of mini-Venice or Amterdam. Come a flood, and the water level in the canals rises a bit, no problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 03:44 PM

Not just flood plains -it is everywhere-parts of East Riding back on flood alert as high tides expected which affect the drain and ditches rivers AND canals -6:00am next crisis point. 5 inches of rain affects all areas regardless. More rain expected- the loss adjusters have delayed their surveys as they expect worsening conditions over the weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: nutty
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 04:38 PM

Our Local Water Board has just completed a huge enterprise of burying tanks all over town to hold sewage when the tides are too high for it to be pumped out to sea.

The project is designed to prevent the sewage and sea water backing up the drains and causing floods. Looks like they might have finished just in time.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 04:49 PM

Severe weather warnings for the weekend

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 03:14 AM

We weren't as badly affected here, just south of Selby, as might have been expected. Gowdall, the village devastated in 2000, had some water gathering in the fields at the higher end of it and across the top of the main street (I think it gathers in a dip) but it was mainly unaffected. The Aire didn't come up as high as I thought it might: it only just spilled a bit into the flood plain.

My son works in flood defence in Cardiff, and he has warned about this coming weekend.

This is just typical - he is coming up on Sunday for Ruth's 21st party (hopefully a BBQ - yeah, right!); I am spending tonight and Saturday night in a tent for a weekend of dance near Southport, which is on the West coast, and in the direction from which the next lot is due to arrive! See me hurriedly packing gear into plastic sacks and running for home early!

Not only that, I am halfway through having my roof replaced.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 04:11 AM

The problem is not the flood plain per se - most of London is built on a flood plain.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 04:30 AM

Though, of course, the words 'flood plain' do give a clue as to possible outcomes of much water.

Being the time of year that it is, I should imagine a lot of people have been intending to spend the weekend in tents at various festivals. Festivals are going to lose a lot of money over this I think.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 04:35 AM

I've been thinking the same thing, Lynne. Hugs to everyone who's worked so hard on their festivals, only to have them washed out...

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 05:30 PM

A second widespread flood has hit central and southern England this time. How is everyone - I know many roads have been closed hope noone has had any major problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: autolycus
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 06:45 PM

Lots of peole have lost everything, Tewksbury and many villages are cut off, some places are running/have run out of water, water pumping stations are getting flooded, the water still rising in places, some places still to be hit hard yet, there's more rain forecast for this week.

Concrete over the place, build in flood plains, can't spend on upgrading sewers and drains cos it's all privatised and investment takes away from share/stockholders dividends.

things change in Britain at the speed of a glacier.

one politico drew a connection between the floods and climate change.

Thus does history bowl merrily along.

And while we live in a blame culture, it'll be someone else's fault, so little will change.

I can bring on loads more relevant hobby-horses - how many do you want. And all because all these supposedly distinct problems are interconnected. Hence E.M.Forster, "Only connect" ?







       Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 06:55 PM

Son #1 is working in Bath and living in Stoke on Trent. He set off at 1630 hours on Friday and arrived home at 0800 Saturday:-( Fortunately he had a duvet and food enough to spend the night just outside Tewksbury.

Scary stuff though.

Cheers

D.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 07:00 PM

For the second time this month I will not be able to get into work tomorrow.
The six mile journey from Malvern to Worcester is normally a pleasure on my Honda, but I can't ride though two feet of water- especially when it's flowing across the road like a wier.
Wendy's work colleague, Joan, had to spend the night at our house on Friday, after spending two hours trying unsuccessfully to get from Malvern to Ledbury- another easy journey of about five miles. I guess she won't be in work tomorrow either.
And, living at the top of the hill, we are the lucky ones. Water was pouring down our street like a white water rafting run on Friday, and the White Cottage at the top of the road was flooded again, but we are just a little higher , so we are OK, though the fish pond spread out to cover the whole garden for a while.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: autolycus
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 02:06 AM

Water treatment works also getting flooded.

There's also a drought developing in some parts a) cor treatment works and pumping stations out, b) cos there's been a run on bottled water (not to mention basic foods.

Oxford and Abingdon being warned of surge to come.

A draft of the housiong green paper from the government seems to be rejecting a ban on house-building in flood plains as "not realistic".

no doubt there's be a relief on the system if no-one was allowed to own more than one home. Then you wouldn't need to build so many more.






       Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 03:50 AM

So far, so good, but it looks like we're going to get ours in the south east later today and during the week. The house opposite me is having a whole load of building materials delivered - I think it's Gopher wood...

Sympathies to all affected, common sense should be allowed to prevail but regret that this is not always the case. There was something on the news at the weekend about a row of houses that had been keeping the waters at bay with garden walls, sandbags and makeshift barriers. A 4X4 driver came down the road at stupid speed (because he could, not because he was an emergency vehicle or anything sensible) and created a bow wave that just burst all their defences and created damage where there had previously been none. Residents at the ends of the road were telling people to drive slowly but he ignored them.

Good luck everyone.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Trevor
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 04:10 AM

Took me two hours to do the 30-odd miles from Ludlow, up the A49, on Friday night. Dopey sods driving too fast through deep puddles and drowning their engines, so the road was littered with vehicles.

A workmate was in Tewkesbury at the weekend, probably one of the last vehicles to get out on Saturday. Sounded awful. Another left Shrewsbury at 3.45 on Friday afternoon, got home to just over the Worcestershire border at 8.15.

Shrewsbury not too bad at the moment - no canoeing down the aisle of The Abbey like a few years ago, though the Severn it is due to surge later today.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Cats
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 11:09 AM

All's well in Cornwall unless you include water coming in out back, side and front doors when an absolute deluge last week brought the water down off the fields at the back. Ok though, we have slate floors and it wa only a bit anyway, nothing like a flood. Boscastle has just set up 'Flood Aid From Boscastle' [Yes folks, Graham is behind it] and have chosen a village in Yorkshire to concentrate their help and support on.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Hollowfox
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 08:18 PM

Everyone *still* ok? (there's a nice dry $#@!-reduction candle going for everyone in slightly-too-dry Ohio)

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,ruler (Glosshire)
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 08:45 AM

Yes managing to get through it. No running water, nor none likely for the next week or so, but plenty of bottled being handed out. At least the electricity's back on where I am.

The river's dropped by 6" but more torrential rain forecast for tonight so we'll see.

Keeping a stiff upper lip, and a dinghy on reserve.

Steve.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 10:11 AM

ok with us, mum has had some flooding and could be affected by water shortage, but ok so far.

Feel for all those affected, it's awful. We had a mini drama with Flooding (leaks and poor drainage) last month. That one day was stressful enough. We've managed to get our problems sorted in time before this next batch.

News reports showing affected areas which are only 20+ miles from us is showing quite a wide spread area. Terrible.

EWIS

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 10:15 AM

Saw this in local paper recently:

Pensioner in legal mire over flood defence bid

Jul 6 2007

Chester Chronicle

A MAN who bought a JCB and 3,000 tons of soil to create home-made flood defences in his garden has lost his legal battle against planners who want to stop him.

A judge this week refused to allow retired split-cane fishing rod maker, Peter Johnson, 67, to appeal against a government inspector's decision supporting Chester planners.

Mr Johnson moved into Heron Lodge, an idyllic one-and-a-half-storey chalet, set in three-quarters of an acre of gardens on the banks of the River Dee, near Farndon Hay, in 2000.

He was blissfully unaware at the time that he was buying a property which now completely floods five or six times every year.

Mr Johnson's reaction was to buy a second-hand JCB and, with the help of a civil engineering company and 3,000 tons of soil, he raised the height of his house and garden by approximately a metre.

However the move met opposition from planners on Chester City Council who issued two enforcement notices in November 2001 and December the next year, ordering him to reduce his land to its original level.

This week he asked Lord Justice Richards sitting at London's Appeal Court, for permission to appeal against a Government planning inspector's decision to uphold those enforcement notices.

He cited legal dicta dating back to the 17th Century and told the judge: 'An Englishman's home is his castle, and I have a right to defend my castle.'

The court heard that Mr Johnson has now been granted permission by planners to raise his house above the level of the flood plain, but he claims that this is useless without raising the surrounding land also.

'The house won't get flooded out, but the foundations will be constantly eroded by floodwater,' he said.

Lord Justice Richards refused to grant him permission to appeal. He said:'I see very vividly the practical difficulties Mr Johnson has had in the past.

But what he has not done is overcome the fundamental problems in relation to his application for permission to appeal.'

Concluding that Mr Johnson was more than two years out of time for making an appeal, the judge said: 'Mr Johnson's position before this court is purely hopeless - it is not open to litigants to have another bite of the cherry having failed once.'


*************

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Mr Red
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 10:38 AM

Gloucs is seriously disadvantaged.

They must be raiding the water from Stroud - &/or the reservoirs are supplied from Mythe Bridge.

The Gloucester & Sharpness canal is the water supply for Bristol. Plenty of water there.

The worry is the sewage in the water - hence streets - hence carried all over by cars.

dysentry sets in first. If the measure the water companies take don't work properly - cholera appears after 2 weeks ish. Without proper washing water these things are not easy to avoid.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 03:21 PM

I live on top of a mountain...Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,ibo
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 09:15 PM

top of a mountain eh,i hope a tornado comes you smug bastard

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: GUEST,ibo
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 09:18 PM

talking about tornados,can any yank please explain to me why they make houses out of what appears to be twigs and lolly sticks in tornado country? Have you got any bricks in the kansas areas?

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Bee
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 06:17 AM

Saw quite a bit of UK flood coverage on CBC yesterday, it was astounding. Keep safe, guys. Sorry you're having such a disastrous July.

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Flash Company
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 09:39 AM

Reading the paper yesterday I suddenly startled S by saying 'I know this man!'
There was a story of a guy and his son dying whilst trying to pump out a cellar at a Rugby Club in Tewkesbury. The man's name was Bramwell Lane, and I worked with him for a while at Linotype in Broadheath before he transferred to Linotype-Paul and moved down to the Bristol area.
My pal John Crosby then rang to say 'Have you seen about Bram Lane?'
I knew him for a short time only, (Early '70s), but would confirm all that his local friends said about him. a really nice guy.
If there are any 'cats in that area who knew him, pass on our condolences.

Brian Quinn & John Crosby

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: philgarringer
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 12:22 AM

I have a theory that all the trailer parks over in tornado ally actually draw in the tornadoes by some magnetic force.

Either that, or God hates trailers.

I hope all of you on the other side of the Atlantic stay safe and high and dry. I'll say a prayer to whoever the patron saint of sogginess is.

I just googled it. St. John of Nepomuk. I always thought he was the patron saint of defenestration. I guess you learn something everyday.

Regardless, stay safe, and don't drive through flooded roads like so many idiots here in the states do...

Subject: RE: BS: Everyone ok? (Floods UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 08:17 AM

Further to Cats' message about Flood Aid from Boscastle - good for Graham!

On a lighter note, see

http://newsbiscuit.com/article/africa-unites-for-flood-aid-concert-in-somalia-168

Kitty