EA says expecting highest levels for over 60 years

boatone

boatone

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EA notice earlier today:
12-Feb-2014
Windsor, Maidenhead and communities in Surrey warned to expect severe disruption as Thames to rise in places to highest levels for over 60 years

Windsor, Maidenhead and communities along the Thames in Surrey remain at high risk of flooding from the Thames today and Thursday – with significant flooding of homes and businesses expected. With further rainfall forecast for today and on Friday and Saturday, the risk of flooding is likely to increase over the next few days. There are currently 14 severe flood warnings in force for the Thames Valley area.
Around 50 homes along the Thames Valley were flooded overnight, bringing the total number of homes flooded since Friday 29 January to 1,135. During this time over 181,000 homes have been protected and over 200,000 homes have been sent a flood warning following the wettest January since 1766.
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I've sold my river boat but continue to look at this part of the YBW forum. I just wanted to express my sympathies for all those who are adversely affect by the flooding. Fingers crossed for you.
 
Chris_d said:
Its still the EA's fault they have had 60 years to prepare since the last one:p
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They probably learnt nothing from the other bad floods 350 years previously, personally think some bodies need digging up and sacking and their pension taking away :)
 
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From my own experience I think the EA have to exaggerate their forecasts slightly so the public doesn't throw it back at them if things get nasty. We had a public meeting in Wraysbury last Sunday, our local Councillor was told the Thames was forecast to rise 8 to 12 inches over the next 24 hours which brought a couple of the ladies at the meeting to tears thinking their houses were going to flood - it actually went up 4 inches.

During the height of the flood a Sky reporter was doing a live broadcast in my road two houses away and pointing to the flood water and stating how it was still rising rapidly, in fact it had been stable for the last two days.

I still think the EA have done a fantastic job, I just hope they can get funding from the Government to extend the Jubilee River down to Teddington as was promised after 2003.
 
GAJ52 said:
From my own experience I think the EA have to exaggerate their forecasts slightly so the public doesn't throw it back at them if things get nasty. We had a public meeting in Wraysbury last Sunday, our local Councillor was told the Thames was forecast to rise 8 to 12 inches over the next 24 hours which brought a couple of the ladies at the meeting to tears thinking their houses were going to flood - it actually went up 4 inches.

During the height of the flood a Sky reporter was doing a live broadcast in my road two houses away and pointing to the flood water and stating how it was still rising rapidly, in fact it had been stable for the last two days.

I still think the EA have done a fantastic job, I just hope they can get funding from the Government to extend the Jubilee River down to Teddington as was promised after 2003.
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This alarmist media stuff and it seems the EA's own PR people is very annoying, if you live near the river and follow the levels and forecast its fairly clear when the river is going to rise
or fall. I listened to those reports with amazement as the EA's own monitoring stations showed the level falling steadily.

There is a scheme proposed for a channel around Oxford as well but it all comes down to the economic impact on the area, they need 120 million but can only justify 50million currently due to the
treasury restictions. The local counciller being interviewed was almost wishing the railway near the BMW works would be flooded so that car produciton would be halted and boost the figure!! Unfortunately the months rainful in 2 days hasn't materialised.
 
GAJ52 said:
.

During the height of the flood a Sky reporter was doing a live broadcast in my road two houses away and pointing to the flood water and stating how it was still rising rapidly, in fact it had been stable for the last two days.

I still think the EA have done a fantastic job, I just hope they can get funding from the Government to extend the Jubilee River down to Teddington as was promised after 2003.
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Also when levels at many monitor stations are showing levels falling - why are they now putting up flood barriers now ?
 
For the first time I am beginning to think buying a waterside property perhaps wasn't such a good idea, levels outside are not worrying, but higher than I have seen them and it's a torrent over the lock weir a couple of hundred yards north.
 
David2452 said:
For the first time I am beginning to think buying a waterside property perhaps wasn't such a good idea, levels outside are not worrying, but higher than I have seen them and it's a torrent over the lock weir a couple of hundred yards north.
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It was the right thing to do, David. People not waterside are just as badly affected, perhaps worse due to mindset and ability to deal with watery things. Just wait for the summer and love it.
 
Gavi said:
It was the right thing to do, David. People not waterside are just as badly affected, perhaps worse due to mindset and ability to deal with watery things. Just wait for the summer and love it.
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I doubt there will be an issue in our part of London really, I guess they can just open Bow Locks at low water and let some of it into the Thames, well I hope so anyway.
 
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