During a visit to Carlisle, the prime minister said the flooding was “absolutely horrific” and he promised to re-examine Cumbria’s flood defence plans.
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The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for rain and wind across northern England and Scotland, with gusts of up to 70 miles per hour predicted.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Liz Truss has said there had been a “number of weather-related fatalities” as a result of the “unprecedented” conditions over the weekend.
Police reported that they are trying to recover the body following reports that an elderly man had fallen in the water.
Britain’s Met Office on Monday said new rainfall records were set for both 24 and 48-hour periods, both in Cumbria.
Mr Cameron was shown inside the home of mother-of-three Lesa Boyko, whose home in Carlisle was hit by two feet of flood water after the River Eden broke through flood defences.
“Is it to do with climate change?” This will continue so we can reopen the West Coast main line as quickly as we can.
After sharp criticism of the flood protection the British environmental agency announced that had been spent in the past ten years 45 million pounds, about 63 million euro, for protective measures.
Local authorities will provide grants worth up to £5,000 to install flood barriers to protect against future severe rainfalls.
Cumbria Police said today its estimated worst-case scenario was as many as 6,425 homes were flooded in the county after Desmond struck.
Thousands of properties remain without power, and evacuation works are continuing on Monday after Storm Desmond wreaked havoc over the weekend in northern England.
RESIDENTS on the Somerset Levels are considering ways to offer help and support to those affected by the floods in Cumbria and Lancashire.
Mr Clark has confirmed that councils will have all of their clean-up costs compensated through the Bellwin scheme.
But DEFRA maintains the day-to-day budget is different to the investment budget, which it says is going to increase to £2.3bn over the next six years.
A total of 131 bridges remain closed having been identified as being of strategic importance and requiring immediate inspection.
Military personnel are also providing support to communities in Patterdale and Glenridding which have been cut off. What it can’t do is eliminate the risk, that is very very very hard to do because, you know, inevitably we have projections but we see extreme events taking place’.
Workmen by Pooley Bridge in Ullswater, Cumbria survey the damage after it collapsed following heavy flooding.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the Government of making “yet another false promise” on flood defence spending. But this has proved to be yet another false promise.
Rescue teams have helped to evacuate people as thousands of shops, homes and businesses were inundated and dozens of schools were closed. All flood storage reservoirs at Carlisle, Wigton, Longton, Kendal and Penrith have been utilised.
David Cameron said the flood defences in Cumbria “were not enough” and some people might not be home for Christmas.
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Some 19,000 customers in Lancaster are still being supplied by generators that were mobilised on Sunday night.
