Hereford almost underwater after being flooded by Storm Dennis
Hereford almost underwater after being flooded by Storm Dennis
Dramatic aerial footage show Hereford almost completely cut off after the city suffered the worst weekend of flooding in its history.On Monday (17/2) there were 38 flood warnings and alerts across Herefordshire including five severe warnings, meaning there is a risk to life.Storm Dennis battered the city and driving rain caused the River Wye to burst its banks and rise to record-breaking levels.The Environment Agency confirmed the river reached 6.3m (21ft) - beating the 1998 record of 4.95m (16ft).Dozens of residents have been rescued from their flooded homes while more than 25 properties suffered power cuts.Police have urged people in flood-hit areas to evacuate their homes and drivers have been warned not to risk making journeys unless absolutely necessary.Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, warned the crisis was "deteriorating".Posting a video on Twitter today (Mon), he said: "Things are deteriorating in many areas across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. "It is a serious situation."Travel is extremely difficult as I'm finding out.
I've had to take a huge detour to get to the motorway to get north to Worcester. "We have an unfolding situation in Hereford in the city itself where levels on the River Wye are the highest ever recorded. "This is not normal flooding.
Things are pretty frantic at the moment."Meanwhile in Worcestershire, there were 70 flood warnings and alerts in place as emergency services battled to deal with the storm waters.Rescue teams were forced to call off a search for a woman who was swept into flood water near Tenbury Wells, Worcs., on Sunday (16/2) night.She disappeared near Eastham Bridge, which crosses the Rive Teme. Chief Superintendent Tom Harding, West Mercia Police, said: "A search and rescue operation was carried out throughout the day yesterday (February 16) to rescue a woman who was swept into flood water near Tenbury."Last night for safety reasons and with a heavy heart, the rescue operation was called off. "It was not a decision that any of the emergency services took lightly, but Fire and Rescue colleagues who were coordinating the operation, took the decision as conditions became extremely challenging due to darkness and fast flowing flood water."The search has continued this morning, including the use of the police helicopter. "Sadly, however, due to the circumstances of the length of time in the water and other conditions we believe that this will now be a recovery rather than rescue operation. "Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. "A man was recovered from the water as a result of the same incident, and was airlifted to hospital where he currently remains in a stable condition."
Dramatic aerial footage show Hereford almost completely cut off after the city suffered the worst weekend of flooding in its history.On Monday (17/2) there were 38 flood warnings and alerts across Herefordshire including five severe warnings, meaning there is a risk to life.Storm Dennis battered the city and driving rain caused the River Wye to burst its banks and rise to record-breaking levels.The Environment Agency confirmed the river reached 6.3m (21ft) - beating the 1998 record of 4.95m (16ft).Dozens of residents have been rescued from their flooded homes while more than 25 properties suffered power cuts.Police have urged people in flood-hit areas to evacuate their homes and drivers have been warned not to risk making journeys unless absolutely necessary.Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, warned the crisis was "deteriorating".Posting a video on Twitter today (Mon), he said: "Things are deteriorating in many areas across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
"It is a serious situation."Travel is extremely difficult as I'm finding out.
I've had to take a huge detour to get to the motorway to get north to Worcester.
"We have an unfolding situation in Hereford in the city itself where levels on the River Wye are the highest ever recorded.
"This is not normal flooding.
Things are pretty frantic at the moment."Meanwhile in Worcestershire, there were 70 flood warnings and alerts in place as emergency services battled to deal with the storm waters.Rescue teams were forced to call off a search for a woman who was swept into flood water near Tenbury Wells, Worcs., on Sunday (16/2) night.She disappeared near Eastham Bridge, which crosses the Rive Teme.
Chief Superintendent Tom Harding, West Mercia Police, said: "A search and rescue operation was carried out throughout the day yesterday (February 16) to rescue a woman who was swept into flood water near Tenbury."Last night for safety reasons and with a heavy heart, the rescue operation was called off.
"It was not a decision that any of the emergency services took lightly, but Fire and Rescue colleagues who were coordinating the operation, took the decision as conditions became extremely challenging due to darkness and fast flowing flood water."The search has continued this morning, including the use of the police helicopter.
"Sadly, however, due to the circumstances of the length of time in the water and other conditions we believe that this will now be a recovery rather than rescue operation.
"Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
"A man was recovered from the water as a result of the same incident, and was airlifted to hospital where he currently remains in a stable condition."
