Storm Desmond

Storm Desmond has caused severe flooding and travel disruption across northern England and parts of Scotland.

21:57 07 December 2015

Tens of thousands of homes are without power following flooding at an electricity substation in Lancaster. As nearly 50 flood warnings remain in place, the Army continues to evacuate home in Cumbria.

 

Prime Minister David Cameron, who is chairing a meeting of the Cobra contingencies committee today, said that the government is doing all it can to help people and prevent further damage.

 

"I would like to pay a huge tribute to all those emergency workers and troops who have worked tirelessly to respond to this weekend's events," he said.

 

"There has been a tremendous response from local communities too, with people taking in families affected by the flooding."

 

Based on provisional figures, the storm has broken records as it brought 340mm of rain within 24 hours in the Lake District. The current record is 316.4mm of rain over the same period in Cumbria in 2009.

 

In Cumbria, emergency crews carried people to safety using boats while eight rescue centres were opened for those who are forced to leave their homes.

 

As of this writing, electricity has been restored to 11,000 homes in Lancaster by a generator with 44,000 more expected to be restored tonight.