Be prepared for days of deluge (From The Argus)
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Be prepared for days of deluge in Sussex
12:05pm Thursday 20th December 2012 in News By Kimberly Middleton, Acting chief reporter
Rivers were being frantically cleared last night as bands of heavy rain threatened to flood West Sussex.
The county was warned to brace itself for a deluge as torrential showers sweeping across the UK were due to hit the county. Forecasters were expecting up to 6cm of rain to have fallen by this afternoon in parts of the country.
With the ground saturated and rivers at bursting point from two weeks of wet weather, homes and businesses were at high risk. Surface water was also expected to disrupt road and rail networks.
Environment Agency officers were working through the night to ensure rivers and flood defences were clear and flowing as quickly as possible. A spokeswoman said workers were particularly concentrating on Chichester, Worthing and Haywards Heath.
Craig Woolhouse, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Our teams are out around the clock to minimise the risks and pre- pare for flooding, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that flood defences are working properly.
"We urge people to keep up to date with the weather forecast and local news overnight and remain prepared for flooding in their area by signing up to receive free flood warnings and staying away from dangerous flood water."
Today’s deluge will not be end of the rain, with forecasts of up to seven days of unsettled conditions as a series of wet weather systems engulf the UK. Last month rivers burst their banks and fields were flooded across the UK.
Keep up to date with the latest information from the Environment Agency website www.environmentagency.gov.uk/flood
Sign up to free flood warnings by calling the Environment Agency Flood Line on 0845 988 1188, check your route for disruption before travelling and not to drive or walk through floodwater.
Have you been affected by flooding? Call us on 01273 544514 or email pictures to newsdesk@theargus.co.uk.
Comments(7)
bluemonday
says...
12:50pm Thu 20 Dec 12
Tailgaters Anonymous
says...
12:55pm Thu 20 Dec 12
StevieD
says...
12:55pm Thu 20 Dec 12
bluemonday wrote:What? spoil all the MP's and Councillors Christmas Jollies to spend money on something important????
i don't suppose anybody's thought about unblocking the drains have they,mmm probably not
paul76
says...
1:36pm Thu 20 Dec 12
Surely there must be drainage / sewers under the roads for the drains further along the roads, so it can't be to difficult can it to put an extra drain in at the point of flooding.
John Steed
says...
10:36pm Thu 20 Dec 12
this lack of routine maintainance is worrying but every thing is romanian style these days, ie do no routine maintainance and then sort it out with a large hammer when it breaks down
Old Ladys Gin
says...
12:52pm Fri 21 Dec 12
paul76 wrote:I think it may be difficult to put a drain into a river that is already in flood.
You do wonder what happens when roads flood. The road always floods with heavy rain opposite the Adur Rec and opposite B&Q in Shoreham, yet no one has ever put a drain in at the point the road floods, or cleaned it out if it is blocked.
Surely there must be drainage / sewers under the roads for the drains further along the roads, so it can't be to difficult can it to put an extra drain in at the point of flooding.
I suspect that is part of the problem.
Ouseler says...
12:16pm Thu 20 Dec 12
Please may I change my Christmas list?
Cancel the push bike, I'd like a rubber Dinghy please...