Gale Chaos In Britain

SOUTH UTSIRE WEST OR NORTHWEST STORM 10 OR VIOLENT STORM 11,

FISHER GERMAN BIGHT WEST OR NORTHWEST STORM 10 TO HURRICANE 12

IRISH SEA SHANNON WEST OR SOUTHWEST 6 TO GALE 8, PERHAPS SEVERE GALE 9

Press Notice No: Duty 3
Saturday, January 8, 2005
Posted 16:00 GMT
LIVERPOOL COASTGUARD ASSISTS COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN LARGE SCALE FLOODING

Coastguards have been working throughout this morning rescuing the many people trapped in and around Carlisle following the floods which hit the area overnight.

The Liverpool Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination centre was called this morning at 6.00 am to request assistance. The following are now on scene rescuing the many people affected by the floods:

• Burgh-by-Sands Coastguard Rescue Team
• Annan Coastguard Rescue Team
• Workington Inshore Lifeboat
• Nith Inshore Rescue Boat
• Rescue Helicopter R131 from RAF Boulmer
• Rescue Helicopter R177 from RNAS Prestwick
• Police, fire, ambulance

South-West Scotland: Heavy Snow
North-West Scotland: Heavy Snow
North-East Scotland: Heavy Snow

Three dead, two missing in storms

Three people have been killed and two more are missing as floods and gales ravaged parts of the country.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley was heading to the worst affected area of Carlisle to see for himself flooding devastation which cost tens of millions of pounds, and meet some of several thousands of people forced to flee their homes.

Cumbria Police said a 63-year-old man was killed when a barn blew down in an area towards the Scottish border, and the bodies of two elderly women were found in flood-affected homes in Carlisle. The cause of their deaths has not been established.

Elsewhere, two people were missing in West Yorkshire and Morayshire, Scotland, after they were swept away in swollen rivers.

Electricity was being restored to some parts of Carlisle gradually after a power cut plunged it into darkness and food, while water and medicines were being distributed to flood-affected households.

With more bad weather predicted, residents were being advised by police not to return to flooded homes yet or go out.

They were also urging people to avoid contact with contaminated water and stop children paddling in it because it could cause illnesses such as gastro-enteritis and Hepatitis A.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "It seems the flood has abated significantly overnight. We are still advising people not to go out because the water could be contaminated.

"Electricity is due to be restored to part of the city but not all."

Police said several thousand people had abandoned their homes, some without help from emergency services.