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England facing
heightened flood risk this winter
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THE Environment Agency have
issued a warning that this year will see an increased likelihood of
flooding over the winter. Wet weather, strong winds coinciding with
high tides and wind-blown leaves and debris blocking rivers, are
increasing flood risk, especially in the West of England.
Families,
communities and businesses are urged to check their flood risk and
be prepared for possible flooding and its impacts.
Based on Met Office analysis, the Environment Agency is advising
that:-
► There is an elevated risk of flooding
from rivers, the sea and from surface water.
► Persistent rainfall in the second half of October made the ground
very wet; making rainfall more likely to lead to flooding.
► Strong winds could increase the risk of flooding, as leaves and
branches block drains, culverts and rivers.
► A strong westerly jet stream is expected to dominate through much
of November bringing bands of rain from the west and southwest,
driven by strong winds. Heaviest rainfall is expected in the west of
the country, especially on areas of high ground.
► During November and early winter Atlantic depressions are
typically more intense, more frequent and carry large amounts of
moisture. Late autumn and early winter are typically the stormier
and wetter times of the year.
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With 1 in 6 properties in England
at risk of flooding, the Environment Agency offers a free flood
warning service which can give people and businesses vital time to
prepare; protecting belongings and reducing the costs of repairs.
The flood warning service, which sends an automated telephone
message, text message, email or alert to Facebook profiles, has over
1.2 million subscribers across England.
David Rooke, Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the
Environment Agency, said:- "The most important thing that we
can all do to protect ourselves from the devastation that flooding
can cause is to be prepared; by checking our flood risk on the
Environment Agency's website, signing up to free flood warnings and
making a personal flood plan. Every £1 spent on protecting
communities from flooding saves £8 in repairing damage. Over the
last three years we have protected an additional 182,000 homes and
businesses with new flood defence schemes."
Last year over 7,000 properties were flooded, but 200,000 properties
were protected from river and coastal flooding by Environment Agency
flood defences.
You can check your flood risk and sign up to free flood warnings by
visiting the Environment Agency
website or by calling Floodline
on:- 0845 988 1188. |
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Talking point:-
"We Will Remember Them"
THIS year marked the 70th
Commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic, along with the build up
to next year's commemorations of World War 1, so throughout
Merseyside, there seems to have been an even larger turn out to
services than normal. Add to that the fact the region has lost
service man and women in recent and ongoing conflicts; it was
extremely good to see many more young people taking part. "No
matter what your views are on war, we have to show our respect and
gratitude for those who have lost their lives for us. I think more
young people should be encouraged to go to these services, as it
also lets us see what war really does." a teenager from
Greenbank school in Southport told our Editor, Patrick Trollope, at
the annual Remembrance Service that took place Sunday, 10 November
2013. "One thing that shocked me was the fact so many
foreigners took part in the activities, yet many native people asked
what was going on? I also think all shops should be shut for
Remembrance Sunday, until 12pm." a member of the public
commented to our Editor after the Formby Remembrance Service on the
Monday. So do you think all shops should close by law on Remembrance
Sunday in the UK? Please let us know your views on that and
also if you are one of the many youth who took part, please let us
know your views as well! Email our news room via:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
Did you know that Merseyside has lost 13
residents who were on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to date?
They were:-
► 28 year old Cpl. Mike Gilyeat, who
served with the Royal Military Police and was killed in Helmand;
► L/Sgt, Mark Burgan, aged 28, who served
with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, killed in Helmand, Nahr-e Saraj
district in 2011;
► Guardsman, Christopher Davies, aged 22,
who served in the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, killed in Helmand -
Nahr-e Saraj, in 2010;
► Pte. Douglas Niall Halliday, aged 20,
from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, killed in Nahr-e Saraj -
Gereshk, in 2010;
► Pte. Alex Isaac, aged 20, serving in 1st
Battalion The Mercian Regiment, killed in Nahr-e Saraj - Gereshk, in
2010;
► Trooper Phillip Lawrence, aged 22, who
served with the Light Dragoons, killed in Helmand, Lashkar Gah, in
2009;
► Guardsman Christopher King, aged 20, who
served with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, attached to 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards, killed in Helmand - Nad Ali, in 2009;
► Cpl. Simon Hornby, aged 29, who served
with the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, killed in
Helmand, Nad Ali, in 2009;
► Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, aged 20,
who served with the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment,
Helmand - Babaji, in 2009;
► Marine Michael Laski, aged 21, who
served with the Royal Marines - 45 Commando killed in action in
Helmand - Sangin area, in 2009;
► Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Smith,
aged 39, was serving in the Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment -
killed in Helmand - Sangin in 2007;
► Flt. Lt. Steve Swarbrick, aged 28, from
RAF 120 Squadron, killed in Kandahar, in 2006;
► Sgt. John Langton, aged 29, serving
within the RAF 120 Squadron, killed in Kandahar, in 2006;
Merseyside's military deaths in Iraq totalled 6. They were:-
► Kingsman Alan Jones, aged 20, died
serving in The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, 2nd Battalion, in Al-Ashar
- Basra, in 2007;
► Kingsman Adam Smith, aged 19, who was in
The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, 2nd Battalion, killed in action,
in Basra, in 2007;
► Cpl. Ben Nowak, aged 27, was serving in
the Royal Marines - died in Shatt al-Arab Waterway, Basra, in 2006;
► Wing Cdr. John Coxen, aged 46, was
serving in the RAF in Basra, killed in 2006;
► Staff Sgt. Denise Rose, aged 34, from
Royal Military Police, Special Investigation Branch, - Basra, 2004;
► Major Matthew Titchener, aged 32, who
was in the Royal Military Police, 150 Provost Company, killed in
Central Basra, in 2003;
To see the services that we covered, in this edition, on Merseyside, and which took
place over both Remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Day, see below:-
►
Southport (Remembrance Sunday)
►
Liverpool (Remembrance
Sunday)
►
Formby's (Remembrance Sunday)
►
Formby (Remembers Day - Monday)
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