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Original poster

Worst coastal surge for 30 years?

340 replies

OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 07:14

So r4 reports the environment agency as saying for this afternoon right down the east coast to Essex. Just eating my breakfast so will dig out the relevant info in a little bit.

OP posts:
Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:22

Very frustrating that mn went down :(

latest in the thames area

52 severe flood warnings now

Hope those in Lincolnshire and East Yorks are doing ok. Looking nasty on the news.

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MissBeehiving · 05/12/2013 19:24

The surge is apparently 3.2 metres above high tide level

Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:24

Part of the latest statement by the EA:"In some areas, sea levels could be higher than those during the devastating floods of 1953. However, flood defences built since then – including the Thames and Hull Barriers – mean that hundreds of thousands of properties are much better protected than in 1953."

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Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:25

There is too much info to take in at the moment.

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summerdip · 05/12/2013 19:27

crikey - we are close to coloured area of flood threat.

meditrina · 05/12/2013 19:27

And it doesn't all go away tonight for tidal surge - the next one or even two high tides could be equally damaging.

There will be many people working round the clock over the next 2 days.

Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:32

If you are travelling by East Anglian some of the lines have been closed in anticipation of the flooding.

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ouryve · 05/12/2013 19:32

As I said, it was just the tone of that one bulletin. I agree that the news coverage in general is a fairly balanced - this one bulletin was badly written.

It's easing off in the NE, now, anyhow, though 10,000 people in Middlesbrough lost power when a substation was flooded. Hopefully, the morning's high tide won't bring in as much water.

Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:33

sorry, thats Greater Anglia rail.

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ProfYaffle · 05/12/2013 19:33

No trains running between Ipswich and Norwich at all. Dh had to get a taxi home from Ipswich to Diss.

Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:34

Expensive Prof!

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FuckedOFFrightnow · 05/12/2013 19:35

High tide just passed in Cleethorpes, and sea defences holding fairly well (touch wood). Some lower lying areas affected.

Apparently Grimsby Docks are not faring well and an area of holiday housing is three foot under water. Hope everyone there is ok. It is strictly forbidden to be there during the off season, but we all know that many of them stay there all year round regardless...

TidalSurgeWorries · 05/12/2013 19:35

Have namechanged.

My Mum is in Great Yarmouth and I'm a bit worried about her.

I was living there in november 2007 when they evacuated GY and spent the night in a local school, it wasn't that bad in the end, but this warning is worrying me more, especially as I'm currently in London and can't help my Mum. She is oldish [sorry Mum!] and disabled. She has my step Dad with her so she's not alone, but she is being a bit of a stubborn old woman and I don't think I'm doing a good job of convincing her to leave her house to go and stay with family who are further inland. Leaving her cat is one reason that she doesn't want to go apparently.

If it is bad she would have to be rescued and I don't know how she would manage that with her limited mobility. She is also diabetic. They have taken essentials upstairs, I told her to take her insulin and snacks up just in case she is stranded which she has done.

Her house was flooded half way up the stairs in the flood of 1953 and she is right by the river.

I think she thinks this will just be another false alarm, she is waiting to see what happens at the 8pm tide in wells.

It's awful worrying about your parents. I can't tell her what to do cos she's my Mum! Gah!

ouryve · 05/12/2013 19:35

And I'll admit I've not seen any TV coverage - stuck with Internet coverage, as our power's been on and off all day, with numerous surges and brownouts in between, so I've had the TV unplugged.

dreamingbohemian · 05/12/2013 19:39

Twit they say everything north of Frankfurt will be pretty bad so yes I would definitely pack some extra clothes and supplies.

Just found out DH is actually in Hamburg which is supposed to be worst hit in Germany, so now I'm a bit worried, I think he's supposed to be travelling tomorrow. He said the storm itself today wasn't any worse than what we usually get here in Brittany though.

ProfYaffle · 05/12/2013 19:39

Not too bad kitten he shared with a few regulars who do the same journey every day.

TidalSurgeWorries · 05/12/2013 19:41

ouryve Great Yarmouth has been very badly affected by floods in the past and due to being a peninsula is high risk. that is I presume why it was focused on, that and the fact that they are evacuating the town.

Re evacuation, first my Mum knew of this was when she saw her rd on the news...the police seemed to have missed her house, worrying as her house is one of the closest to the river.

Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:42

sounds like its been a rather trying day ouryve.

Tidal, why dont you call her local police (on their non emergency number) and let them know that you feel that your Mum is in a vulnerable position. Then they can keep an eye out if the street starts to flood.

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meditrina · 05/12/2013 19:44

Ouryve: have you go reliable power now? Hope things are improving.

I have in-laws in a potentially badly affected area. No adverse news so far.

TidalSurgeWorries · 05/12/2013 19:46

I have told her I may do that, I've called her back after reading up on the news updates and she has agreed to make a decision after the Wells 8pm tide [if it is bad she will hopefully leave]

I really hope it won't be bad, I'm feeling a bit of an emotional wreck! Ive had a bit of a shit fraught day anyway and this has topped it!

ProfYaffle · 05/12/2013 19:49

Details are here Tidal. Looks like water has come over the sea walls.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 05/12/2013 19:51

Hey TidalSurgeWorries let us know how it goes. Smile

ChubbyKitty · 05/12/2013 19:51

Okay my friends gate has come off and my dads aerial is hanging off the roof! But we're in a bit of a dip so nothing down here yet.

Original poster
OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 05/12/2013 19:52

different source of tidal gauge info

look at lowestoft

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ParsingFancy · 05/12/2013 19:53

Thoughts going out to the Netherlanders, Belgians and Germans tonight. In 1953, the UK had 300-odd dead: the Netherlands over 1000.