Post by rdsmum on Jun 27, 2007 7:36:42 GMT 12
Hundreds of people have been evacuated over fears that a Yorkshire dam could burst as devastating floods claimed three lives in the region.
Residents living near Ulley Dam in South Yorkshire have left their houses after Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council warned of a "significant risk" as cracks appeared in its walls after abnormally heavy rain.
Ulley Reservoir, located to the southeast of Sheffield, covers an area of 35 acres and is about 46ft deep. People living in the areas of Whiston, Canklow, Catcliffe and Treeton are now at a temporary shelter set up at Dinnington Comprehensive School.
Chief Executive of Rotherham Council, Mike Cuff, said: "The water, if it escapes, will run into a valley area but would fairly rapidly spread out. It would reach the M1 motorway and it would then spread out.
"If the dam should burst we would be talking in terms of maybe 15 minutes or so before water would reach residential areas."
The Government has confirmed that emergency financial assistance will be made available to councils dealing with the flooding.
Environment Secretary David Miliband told the Commons that local authorities will be reimbursed up to 85 per cent of non-insurable clear-up costs by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Meanwhile, the M1 has been closed in both directions between junctions 32 and 34 because of the dam while there are also concerns about a power station that serves most of Sheffield which lies in its path.
The pitch at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club's famous Hillsborough stadium is under water after the River Don, which runs near to the ground, burst its banks.
In the city, some 1,400 people spent the night at a number of rest centres, including Sheffield Arena, while 200 were evacuated from their homes on the Winn Gardens estate in the northwest of the city.
Overnight, a major rescue operation involving three RAF helicopters was launched as the rising waters trapped workers and motorists.
At an industrial complex in Brightside Lane, workers were airlifted from the roof as around 4ft of water began to come through into buildings.
The unprecedented flooding resulted in the deaths of three people. Police recovered the body of Ryan Joe Parry, who was swept away in the Millhouses Park area while a 68-year-old man died as he tried to cross a road flooded by water.
Earlier, in Hessle, near Hull, 28-year-old Mike Barnett died after becoming trapped in a storm drain despite a frantic attempt by emergency services to save him.
Bob Kerslake, chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said: "We have seen the most intense rain since records began. This has been quite unparalleled and extraordinary. People who have lived all their lives in Sheffield would say this is the most severe flooding they've ever seen."
He added: "We expect there to be big disruption to business and I would think, millions of pounds worth of damage to be dealt with."
In Lincolnshire, police said at least 60 more homes were evacuated overnight while homes in the villages of Glentham, near Market Rasen, and Waddingham, near Spussycathorpe, remain without power.
In Louth, a further 20 homes were evacuated overnight and 32 people from 18 houses and three caravans were removed in Wainfleet, while in Lincoln 12 bungalows and six flats were evacuated. Many roads in the north of the county remain closed.
Tony Blair said the floods have been an "extraordinary and very serious event" and he praised the efforts of the emergency services and offered sympathy to those who lost loved ones.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on climate change, he said Environment Secretary David Miliband will make a Commons statement on the situation.
"This has been an extraordinary and very serious event for us. We are in very close touch with the authorities there. The Gold command has been set up. The emergency services, as ever, are doing a fantastic job," he said.
"Our flood defences are holding but this is a difficult situation and it is not the first time over the past few years that we have been subject to quite unusual and extraordinary weather variations."
Mr Blair added: "I think that the immediate thing is to make sure that we get the right co-ordination with the emergency services, which we are doing, and we try to make sure that we prevent any further loss of life."
Luckily we havent had it this bad down where we are, surface flooding but it only lasts a couple of hours.
Lots of warm thoughts and hugs for those suffering at the moment.
Residents living near Ulley Dam in South Yorkshire have left their houses after Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council warned of a "significant risk" as cracks appeared in its walls after abnormally heavy rain.
Ulley Reservoir, located to the southeast of Sheffield, covers an area of 35 acres and is about 46ft deep. People living in the areas of Whiston, Canklow, Catcliffe and Treeton are now at a temporary shelter set up at Dinnington Comprehensive School.
Chief Executive of Rotherham Council, Mike Cuff, said: "The water, if it escapes, will run into a valley area but would fairly rapidly spread out. It would reach the M1 motorway and it would then spread out.
"If the dam should burst we would be talking in terms of maybe 15 minutes or so before water would reach residential areas."
The Government has confirmed that emergency financial assistance will be made available to councils dealing with the flooding.
Environment Secretary David Miliband told the Commons that local authorities will be reimbursed up to 85 per cent of non-insurable clear-up costs by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Meanwhile, the M1 has been closed in both directions between junctions 32 and 34 because of the dam while there are also concerns about a power station that serves most of Sheffield which lies in its path.
The pitch at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club's famous Hillsborough stadium is under water after the River Don, which runs near to the ground, burst its banks.
In the city, some 1,400 people spent the night at a number of rest centres, including Sheffield Arena, while 200 were evacuated from their homes on the Winn Gardens estate in the northwest of the city.
Overnight, a major rescue operation involving three RAF helicopters was launched as the rising waters trapped workers and motorists.
At an industrial complex in Brightside Lane, workers were airlifted from the roof as around 4ft of water began to come through into buildings.
The unprecedented flooding resulted in the deaths of three people. Police recovered the body of Ryan Joe Parry, who was swept away in the Millhouses Park area while a 68-year-old man died as he tried to cross a road flooded by water.
Earlier, in Hessle, near Hull, 28-year-old Mike Barnett died after becoming trapped in a storm drain despite a frantic attempt by emergency services to save him.
Bob Kerslake, chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said: "We have seen the most intense rain since records began. This has been quite unparalleled and extraordinary. People who have lived all their lives in Sheffield would say this is the most severe flooding they've ever seen."
He added: "We expect there to be big disruption to business and I would think, millions of pounds worth of damage to be dealt with."
In Lincolnshire, police said at least 60 more homes were evacuated overnight while homes in the villages of Glentham, near Market Rasen, and Waddingham, near Spussycathorpe, remain without power.
In Louth, a further 20 homes were evacuated overnight and 32 people from 18 houses and three caravans were removed in Wainfleet, while in Lincoln 12 bungalows and six flats were evacuated. Many roads in the north of the county remain closed.
Tony Blair said the floods have been an "extraordinary and very serious event" and he praised the efforts of the emergency services and offered sympathy to those who lost loved ones.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on climate change, he said Environment Secretary David Miliband will make a Commons statement on the situation.
"This has been an extraordinary and very serious event for us. We are in very close touch with the authorities there. The Gold command has been set up. The emergency services, as ever, are doing a fantastic job," he said.
"Our flood defences are holding but this is a difficult situation and it is not the first time over the past few years that we have been subject to quite unusual and extraordinary weather variations."
Mr Blair added: "I think that the immediate thing is to make sure that we get the right co-ordination with the emergency services, which we are doing, and we try to make sure that we prevent any further loss of life."
Luckily we havent had it this bad down where we are, surface flooding but it only lasts a couple of hours.
Lots of warm thoughts and hugs for those suffering at the moment.
