Latest on the floods in UK

Latest on soggy England

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6911226.stm

And to show at least we have one or two sensible MPs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6911978.stm

 

I hope all UK MG'ers are safe and DRY.
Let us know how it is, where you are. Bazza

 

My parents are in one of the worst hit areas. They have no electricity, no cell phone, no internet and get this....no fresh tap water!!!! They lost that too yesterday as the flood waters contaminated the sewerage plant which in turn contaminated the drinking supply. Could be up to 2 weeks to get it fixed. Electricity is intermittent so occasionally they get word out to me as to how they are doing. Stores are running dry (excuse the pun) on fresh supplies...no refirdgerated goods available. But at least their home is on a slight rise and they did not get flooded out. According to my sons, my old apartment was under 6 feet of water on the first floor.

 

Hehe...nope....there isn't anything set up to deal with this. Give it a month and they will be on a hose ban due to drought. There's nothing set up to deal with that either......

 

Lev, awful about your parents, how are you in contact with them?

 

They've had a couple of short spells of electricity in which they have been able to get an short email out to me, but mostly through my boys, who still have telephone service.

 

I wish them well and you also

 

Why thank you Darlene

 

So true Lev. And the houses will still be built on flood plains and when it rains (as it tends to do on occasion over here) and everywhere floods they'll just blame global warming. :banghead

 

I heard that Tesco have been wonderful giving away free bottles of water to everyone.

 

It's the same all over whether it be flood zones, fire, hill slides, earthquakes, tornados and so on. I don't think there's a place free of natures wrath.

 

My parents managed to get out to their local Tesco's. Don't know about giving it away. There was no bottled water, fresh produce or refridgerated produce to be found. They are being told 2 weeks before they have running water again.

 

Have they been through this before, are there shelters to go to?

 

LOL...no...no shelters....sadly the UK is not geared up with a FEMA type response unit. Many areas of the UK re hitting by severe flooding almost annually. The only responders are the emergency services, the army and non-profits like the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

This is the worst flooding since 1947.

 

How are they doing now any better? Must be awful for you so far away.

 

They still have no running water and have been told it will be at least another 8 days - that was yesterday. But they are fine.....they have plenty of bottled water, and the email my mother sent me said that personal hygiene was not like it was in Elizabethan times...then she quickly added "the first Elizabeth, that is!". I never knew the Queen has such a basic bathroom LOL

 

News is that there is more rain on the way... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6920251.stm Notice the hotspot (or wet spot) around Gloucester. Looks like things are not going to get better.

... and is the wettest for 240 years: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6916724.stm

On a lighter note, recall the old rhyme "Doctor Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain...". very apt.

 

It's not been much better over here,not so much flooding but non stop rain for the whole month our biggest problem is most houses here have large cellars and mine has been 4 foot deep but luck was that we got everything out first, it's the water table that is so high.

 

Exactly Maxwell.....that's where my parents are!

 

I don't think the rain was as bad as expected and now (hopefully) a few 'nice' days are predicted so I hope your folks aren't too bad.