David Cameron is likely to face tough questions about the devastation, which has also affected Leeds, Greater Manchester and swathes of Yorkshire and Lancashire, when he visits the area later.
The River Ouse is around 5.1m above its normal summer levels and is expected to keep rising until it approaches its highest level ever recorded - 5.4m - at around lunchtime today.
The Environment Agency said officials had been forced to lift the city's flood barrier after water entered the Foss barrier building, causing flooding to around 500 properties on Sunday.
Families were forced to flee from their homes as residential streets were turned into rivers of mud as waters reached record levels.
Some 500 soldiers have been drafted in and 1,000 more are on standby to help after the Prime Minister vowed to help people "in their hour of need".
Residents affected by the deluge said it had been "frightening".
Speaking near his flooded home in York, Dan Cook told Sky News: "Last night we moved the cars just in case, then went to sleep and when we woke up this morning it was like it is now, so quite frightening."
He added: "You can't do much about it. We're on the top floor. I've just been out and got some supplies of water and milk and things."
Engineers have been examining how to restore power to the Foss barrier building while troops spent Sunday stacking sandbags, until they ran out, forcing the council to beg neighbouring authorities for help.
Thousands of homes in northern England have been left without power, with almost 6,000 hoping to be reconnected today.
One of the flooded substations was in Rochdale, which five years ago had its flood defences given a £470,000 upgrade to protect power supplies against a "1-in-200-year" flood.
Teams from insurance companies have been on the ground in the affected areas. Customers have been advised to get their claims started as soon as possible and to take photos of damaged items.
Aviva's Rob Townend said: "Any damage caused to property and belongings will be covered and if customers have to move out of their home, because it is uninhabitable, the cost of alternative accommodation is also paid for - and we can make arrangements for pets, too."
The floods also affected transport links in the North. Some 16 road closures were in effect in Cumbria, while Northern Rail urged passengers not to travel in Cumbria, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire unless their journey is "absolutely necessary".
Many places have seen record river levels over the past 24 hours, including the River Aire in Leeds, and the rivers Calder and Ribble, affecting places such as Whalley, Hebden Bridge and Ribchester.
West Yorkshire Police declared a major incident after responding to what it said was the "worst flooding in 70 years" in the area.
Judith Blake, the leader of Leeds City Council, said the authority had warned the Government that flooding in Leeds was a "catastrophe waiting to happen".
She called for "significant investment" in additional flood defences for the city to prevent future flooding.
News of the flooding has even reached space, where Major Tim Peake passed over the UK on Sunday in the International Space Station.
He tweeted: "Passed over UK today - thoughts are with all those affected by flooding in northern England."
No comments:
Post a Comment