Rescue operation underway as floods hit Cornwall

The RAF confirmed to Channel 4 News it has scrambled two Sea King helicopters from RMB Chivenor and RNAS Culdrose after reports of trapped people in vehicles and homes.

One vehicle was swept into the sea, but did not have any passengers inside. An RAF spokesman told Channel 4 News that the village of Lostwithiel is cut off by the flood water and Bodmin, St Blazey, Par, and St Austell are all affected.

Locals told Channel 4 News that the flooding, which has burst the banks of the River Fowey, is nowhere near the proportions of the Boscastle flood, one of the worst flood in British history. But the concern is what will happen at high tide which is due at 2pm.

Amy Payne, a receptionist at Lostwithiel Hotel and Country Club, told Channel 4 News that locals were very anxious about high tide, which occurs this afternoon at 2pm.

She said: “We’re all very worried about the flooding and people seem to be scared, but what we’re most concerned about is the high tide, because that could make things a lot worse.”

David Lorimer, who owns a furniture shop in St Austell, told Channel 4 News that his shop had been devastated by 10 inches of water.

“When I got to the shop, it was like a river running through the streets,” he said.

“I opened up and there was eight to ten inches of water.

“I’ve got a lot of furniture scattered across the floor around the store. There’s been thousands of pounds worth of damage.”

He added: “Most of the water has subisided now but it’s left us with a big clean up operation now, just as we were getting ready for Christmas, our busiest time.

“People have been fantastic though, really helpful.

“There’s been a lot of coffees and hot chocolates being handed out.”

Angelie Knight, who runs a guesthouse in Lostwithiel, told Channel 4 News: “We all saw and many experienced the scale of what happened there and this is not the same.

“From what I’ve seen the worst of the flooding has affected a small area and hopefully it won’t get worse.

“My house was three inches away from being flooded, my neighbours were a foot-deep in water and what’s on everyone’s mind is sandbags: we need sandbags.”

There are currently eight flood warnings in force for rivers in the South West:
- Cornwall: River Fowey from Trekeivesteps to Lostwithiel
- Cornwall: River Kensey from Egloskerry to St Leonards
- Cornwall: River Neet from Woolstone Mill to Rodds Bridge
- Cornwall: River Ottery from Canworthy Water to Werrington
- Devon: River Coly from Colyton to Colyford
- Devon: River Dart from Dartmeet to Totnes, including Buckfastleigh and Staverton
- Devon: River Otter (Lower) from Fenny Bridges to Budleigh Salterton
- Devon: River Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster
There are also 14 flood watches in place for rivers in the South West.
People can find out more information and sign up for free Environment Agency flood warnings by visiting the Environment Agency website or by calling 0845 988 1188.

@jamandcream wrote on Twitter: “People need to avoid Marhamchurch road (near Trelay) a car is totally submerged with a man stranded on the roof of the car”.

St Winnow CoE Primary School in Lostwithiel is closed and although Lostwithiel Primary School is open, “very few” children had managed to get in for 9am, according to a spokeswoman.

Martin Williams, A spokesman for the Eden project, which is situated around five miles away from Lostwithiel, said that the eco attraction has closed for the day after the complex was flooded last night.

He told Channel 4 News: “We experienced flooding in several areas, some worse than others, but we’ve got a very good team working way to get it cleaned up with the hope that we can be open tomorrow.

“The good news is that none of our plants have been affected and our main concern is for the people whose homes and properties have been damaged during the flood.”

Charlie Appleton, a local resident, woke up last night to find his house was flooded.

He told Channel 4 News: “About a quarter past five this morning I heard a noise outside and when I looked out there was a bus that had stopped. I realised it was flooded. I woke my family up and we went downstairs and we started getting the furniture off the floor because the water was starting to come into the house.

“We got most of the water out of the house and we still can’t open the doors. The water levels outside are too high and all the stairs and carpets are soaked and all the floors are gone. There’s a bout a foot inside and three feet outside.

“It was very heavy rain and it’s just come off the hill and come to the low point and the drains couldn’t cope and it got into the mud and everything. The water is very slowly going down but till the council clear the drains it’s never going to disappear. They’re working at it now, there’s four or five council workers and a van working away.”

PMQs on floods

David Cameron said the Government is “ready to help in any way that we can”.

The Prime Minister told MPs during Commons question time: “There was a very difficult night in central and south east Cornwall.

“I think the emergency services, the police, the coastguard, the fire services, fire and rescue – they’ve been working round the clock and they’ve done a fantastic job.

“There are no reports of casualties yet but there have been some medical evacuations.”

He added: “We have said that we stand ready to help in any way that we can.

“We have to remember that when the floodwaters actually start to recede, that’s when many of the biggest problems arise over insurance and getting people back into their homes.”

Major flooding incident

Devon and Cornwall police confirmed it is dealing with a “major flooding incident” following heavy rain in the area.

There have so far been no reports of serious injuries but people are being advised against travelling.

A police spokesman said: “Emergency services and partner agencies in Cornwall are dealing with incidents of flooding in parts of the county.

“Due to heavy rainfall overnight, parts of mid and north Cornwall have been affected by serious flooding.

“Areas of St Austell and St Blazey are impassable and people have been trapped in their cars and homes.

“Members of HM Coastguard and search and rescue helicopters were used throughout the night to monitor the situation but have since been stood down.

“At this time, there are no known casualties.

“Police have declared the flooding as a ‘major incident’ and are working together with Cornwall Fire and Rescue and local authorities, including the council and environmental agency to deal with the effects of the severe weather.

“The rain has now stopped but there is still very deep flood water in certain areas.

“Many roads have been affected and people are advised not to undertake any journeys through flooded areas.”

The police are working with Cornwall Fire and Rescue, the local council and environmental agency and the RAF.

Volunteers from the RNLI have deployed two rescue boats to Cornwall to help those affected by the flooding. Members of the charity’s Flood Rescue Team left the RNLI Headquarters in Poole, Dorset, at 10.30am.

The volunteers are heading for Middlemoor Police Station, near Exeter, which serves as a base for Devon and Cornwall Police. Other RNLI volunteers from the South West are also travelling to the Police Station to meet up with the team.

Flood advice
If you are preparing for a flood, the Environment Agency recommends the use of sandbags and airbricks to block doors - whilst maintaining adequate ventilation. It also advises you to devise your own flood kit with a torch, battery radio, rubber gloves, emergency numbers and keeping your insurance policy to hand.
In the event of a flood keep an eye on local radio and weather reports, sign up for flood warnings and only travel when absolutely necessary, taking care when travelling through flooded areas - including shallow water.
A Spokesperson for Cornwall Council told Channel 4 News "Currently there are on-going meetings taking place with the Council, residents and the relevant emergency services about the best course of defence.
"We have set up the Polkyth Leisure Centre as a response centre and meeting place for those affected in the Mevagissey area which has been affected badly, and this will remain open for as long as people need it.
"There's not been much of a take up to though, this is a very close-knit community and most people have been put up by family or friends."

Why Cornwall again?

Cornwall suffered serious flash flooding in 2004 at Boscastle. Military helicopters airlifted around 100 people to safety, and 58 properties were flooded, including four businesses.

Senior forecaster at Weather Commerce David Roberts told Channel 4 News the reason Cornwall has been deluged with heavy rain and thus flooded is because of the positioning of the jet stream in the Atlantic moving south.

He said: We’ve had a conveyor belt of Atlantic depressions, and this is one of several over the past couple of weeks. We had one last Friday which was a very intense depression and gave us gales, prior to that there was lots of rain in the south on the Thursday, so today’s floods are simply a topping up of the water table.

“Most of our weather comes from the Atlantic, so it’s to be expected that Cornwall and the South West will be hit.

“The difference its from normal Atlantic depressions is that this has come a bit further south than normal. This is to do with the positioning of the jet stream, which usually moves the depression between Iceland and the Faroes. This time the jet stream has been slightly more south, hence the more intensive deluge in Cornwall.

“It can depend on high pressure and other factors, but in this case the key is the positioning of the jet stream.

“This heavy rain will continue through the day into the night and the South West will have more showers tomorrow but then a drying period, before more rain over the weekend.The Environment Agency has deployed teams to check river flood defences and to assist emergency services with the recovery process.”

A spokesman told Channel 4 News: “The joint Environment Agency/Met Office Flood Forecasting Centre issued an extreme rainfall alert yesterday afternoon to give emergency responders and local authorities advance warning of the heavy rain overnight, which has mainly resulted in flooding from drains and surface water run-off.

“This is a serious incident and our thoughts are with those people whose homes have flooded.”

According to reports vehicles have been washed into Portloe Harbour near Truro, while three feet of water has trapped hundreds of people in their homes.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting traffic jams backing vehicles up by several miles and a landslide which took place in Lostwithiel at around 6.30am. Roads blocked include the A390 at Gunnislake.

Vehicles have also been abandoned on main roads including the A30, A38 and the A390.