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Armed Forces are on stand-by for a Christmas flooding crisis as the North braces for more severe weather.
Seven hundred Environment Agency staff and military personnel are being deployed as flood warnings have been issued in the North and Scotland for late Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The Army is preparing to bolster flood defences in Cumbria and will be out putting sandbags in place on Christmas Eve in preparation for Storm Eva.
The Met Office 150mm is expected to fall over higher ground in Cumbria with 60-80mm at lower levels and 70mph winds.
Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday, the Environment Secretary Liz Truss said: “We are deploying 700 people from the Environment Agency, we will be deploying military personnel as well, looking at what the potential scenarios are.
“We are still too far out to have an exact prediction of the weather but we do know there will be further storms, probably on Boxing Day.
“So we are making sure we have all the resources ready to go should they be needed.”
Weather forecasters say rain could be persistent and heavy, with the danger of more floods in the region, which is still recovering from Storm Desmond earlier this month.
Homes and businesses in at least two Cumbria villages have been flooded again this week.
Appleby was deluged by three to four feet of water after the River Eden burst its banks, forcing more people to leave their homes.
The Glenridding Hotel, near Ullswater, was also under two feet of water – the third time it has been breached this month.
It said on Facebook staff were “feeling deflated” after the latest deluge.
Firefighters in Cumbria were called to eight flooding incidents on Tuesday, including the rescue of a 70-year-old woman.
It came a day after Prince Charles met victims of the previous floods, which insurers have said will leave them with a bill for £520m.
Ms Truss said the Government was doing all it could to help people after the flooding.
She said: “We have put forward £60m in terms of support for repairs, for communities to get back on their feet and we are also supporting on the ground through local councils in terms of making sure that people have homes, making sure that the roads get back up and running, so we are doing all we can.”
The Environment Agency has issued 11 flood warnings in the Northwest, Northeast and Wales.
A further 54 “flooding is possible” amber alerts have also been issued.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We are monitoring the situation closely and will issue further flood alerts and warnings if required.”
Cumbria Police are urging motorists on the road over Christmas to “adapt their driving style” and be aware of changing conditions.
“Please do not in any circumstance ignore road closure signs and continue on your journey,” said Chief Inspector Matt Kennerley.
“Driving through flood water is extremely dangerous as you cannot determine the depth.”
Courtesy of Sky News
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