Flood in south-west England

Ongoing storms and heavy rainfall have brought further flooding to southern England since 31 January 2014. Several major rivers are now flooding, or are at risk of doing so over the next five to ten days.

This latest series of storms following on from earlier ones that have affected the United Kingdom as far back as December 2013. See the two previous related Charter activations: 469 and 472.

Some areas of southern England, such as the Somerset Levels and Moors, have now been flooded for over five weeks. It is estimated that 413 homes have been flooded across the country and farmland has also been inundated with no sign of immediate relief from the continuing weather conditions. With the ground already saturated, further rainfall will prolong the difficult conditions.

People have evacuated their homes in some of the worst affected areas, and livestock has been moved to safer locations.

The Environment Agency has issued two severe flood warnings for the latest storms, and continue to update their flood warning maps with the latest information.

Existing flood defences are limiting the damage, and it is estimated that over a million buildings have been protected from flooding by the infrastructure in place. The army has been providing assistance and relief operations to complement the many emergency services personnel and volunteers across the country.