Environment secretary Owen Paterson will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency weather committee Cobra today, as councils continue to battle flooding.
Paterson said meetings to discuss the severe weather conditions would ensure the Environment Agency and local authorities ‘are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities’.
‘We will remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas,’ Paterson added.
Recent flooding has bought down power lines, submerged homes and caused travel chaos across much of southern England.
Seven flood warnings and 92 flood alerts are currently in place, with the Environment Agency warning coastal communities of possible further tidal flooding later this week.
The Environment Agency’s head of flood incident management, Craig Woolhouse, said: ‘Strong winds and large waves along the west and south coasts of England are forecast between Friday and Sunday, coinciding with high tides. Impacts could include flooding affecting some coastal properties and communities.
‘Environment Agency teams are out on the ground making sure that flood defences are in good working order, monitoring sea levels and preparing to issue flood alerts and warnings.’
Over the festive period, highway teams in Surrey dealt with around 160 instances of road flooding and nearly 600 fallen trees.
Surrey CC leader, David Hodge, said: ‘Our staff along with those from borough and district councils and all the other agencies involved, have been working round the clock to help those in the county who have been affected by this terrible weather. And we’ll continue to do so until things improve.’
