UK Flooding: Two Shropshire Towns Urged To Evacuate As Rivers Rise To Record Levels
Residents in two towns in Shropshire have been urged to evacuate their homes as fears over flooding continued across the UK.
Rivers hitting record levels are threatening to breach flood barriers as around 600 properties have already been flooded as a result of rain brought by Storm Dennis.
With further heavy rain forecast to fall on already saturated areas of the UK, more damage is expected. In Shropshire, police urged residents in Ironbridge and Bridgnorth to evacuate their properties as the raging River Severn neared its peak.
People were warned they could be putting their own lives and those of the emergency services at risk if they failed to leave, with fears flood barriers would be overtopped.
Chief superintendent Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, said: “We know residents want to stay in their homes and understand it is an inconvenience for them to leave, but it really is in their best interests to do so.”
The force said an estimated 384 properties have been “significantly impacted by the floods” across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
The Environment Agency (EA) has warned that levels on the Rivers Wye and Severn will remain especially high into the weekend, after both broke records this week.
Incredibly busy day again today, flood waters peaking at various times. We have concerns in Ironbridge re: flood defence and increasing flood levels in Bridgnorth. We have officers working Bewdley area and expect high water levels in Shrewsbury, Worcester and Hereford to continue pic.twitter.com/NysSbuutlA
— Chief Superintendent Tom Harding (@CSuptHarding) February 18, 2020
Floods at Bridgnorth, why haven’t they installed flood barriers there? #bridgnorth#floods#riversevernpic.twitter.com/mtiqS9J5QT
— Richard Twigg 🎗 (@Twiggy1878) February 18, 2020
