£50m Relief Fund To Help Flood Victims

It had already been announced 5,000 businesses and households in Cumbria and Lancashire, which were flooded, are to get relief from council tax and business rates.

Storm Desmond comes less than two years after flooding struck homes in the county of Somerset, western England, and in the Thames Valley, also prompting criticism of the Environment Agency and pledges of action.

While Storm Desmond has exited the United Kingdom, the storm-weary region will have to be on alert for more rain and wind this week.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there was one severe flood warning – indicating danger to life – in place in northwest England for the area covering part of St. Michaels.

NFU president Meurig Raymond said: “Members have reported major incidents such as landslides which have wreaked havoc with their farmland, they have also told us of power cuts which have made running the business nearly impossible, and have raised concerns about scheduled dairy collections and animal feed deliveries, which may be lost”.

“We will support the work the Cumbrian Foundation does and we will match by up to £1 million the amount they are raising for their local flood appeal”.

Many schools in Cumbria remain closed, and Lancaster University has cancelled the rest of the term after losing power on much of the campus.

It said: ” Cumbria Police would like to urge the people of Glenridding to stay inside their properties to keep themselves and their families safe.

On Monday, a business in Carlisle had £4,000 in cash and alcohol stolen, while tools valued at £3,000 were stolen the same day in Penrith.

In many areas, the flooding has begun to receded and victims are starting to count the cost of the damage.

Virgin Trains reopened West Coast Main Line rail services through Cumbria and military engineers have been assisting highways authorities in getting roads back into use.

Some 2,685 properties in Cumbria remain without power, the force said.

Homes and businesses have been devastated by record rainfall, and the extreme weather has claimed three lives.

A body thought to be that of an elderly man was discovered in the swollen River Kent in Cumbria, while Irish police recovered the body of Ivan Vaughan, 70, in Co Monaghan.

This followed reports that David Cameron asked COBRA this morning whether there needs to be “adjustments” in relation to flood planning following the unprecedented rainfall and river levels experienced in Cumbria over the weekend.

“Local communities, businesses and emergency services continue to show great resilience and we need to see the Environment Agency working with infrastructure providers as they fight to restore power and utilities”.

“It was back to normal and then it started again tonight”.