Residents of a caravan park in Dorset have been urgently evacuated after Storm Chandra caused the nearby River Stour to burst its banks, with forecasters warning of further heavy rainfall today. People living at Iford Bridge Home Park near Christchurch were instructed to leave "as quickly as possible" due to a severe flood warning indicating "danger to life."
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
Rescue teams were observed going caravan to caravan as rising water levels flooded homes. Officials cautioned about "deep and fast flowing" water on the River Stour. Staff from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, alongside emergency services, assisted with the evacuation of the site, which contains approximately 80 homes.
Residents were advised to pack essential items including medications and prepare to be away from their properties overnight. Power to the site was expected to be impacted by the flooding. The Environment Agency told those affected: "Move family, pets and cars to safety and turn off gas, electricity and water if it is safe to do so." River levels were anticipated to peak at 3.66 metres yesterday.
Resident Experiences and Concerns
Among those evacuated was resident Martin Sadler, who remarked: "I was there in 2013 and my home was flooded then. Subsequent to that the homes were raised by about 65cm. I feel quite safe actually now that the home is safe from flooding. I think they are turning the electricity off, and so that's a bit difficult to be comfortable without that."
Ann Mallett, who relocated to stay with family, expressed frustration about flood alleviation measures: "It's obviously going to get worse every year, and nobody seems to do anything about it. We are okay because we are over to our sons to stay, but some people don't have that. It's just a flipping nuisance really."
Met Office Warnings and Forecast
The Met Office has issued further warnings of torrential downpours expected to cause travel delays and potentially worsen flooding on already saturated ground in the South West. A yellow rain alert is active from 12pm today until 3am tomorrow for Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, with another 25mm (1 inch) of rain forecast.
A separate 19-hour yellow rain warning for Northern Ireland is predicted to bring up to 60mm (2.4 inches) and additional flooding between midnight tonight and 6pm tomorrow. Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert stated: "On Thursday, showers in South West England will be replaced by a more organised area of rain. There's a yellow warning for rain in place from noon until Friday morning, with the focus for heavier rain across South West England."
Widespread Flood Warnings and Disruption
The Environment Agency currently has 76 flood warnings and 181 alerts in place for England today, alongside three alerts in Wales and six alerts or warnings in Scotland. Flooding continues to cause significant rail disruption, with National Rail imposing a "do not travel" warning for Great Western Railway passengers attempting journeys between Exeter, Okehampton and Barnstaple in Devon until at least the end of tomorrow.
In Cornwall, the line between Liskeard and Looe remains closed following track flooding, with no trains expected until next Monday at the earliest. Meanwhile in Devon, recent storm weather caused a large sinkhole to appear near the railway line between Dawlish and Teignmouth, leading to closure for repairs.
Broader Impact Across Somerset and Beyond
Flooding concerns extend beyond Dorset, with residents on the Somerset Levels fearing heavy rainfall today could bring the worst flooding in over a decade. Retired couple Lesley and John Parker, who live in Burrowbridge, Somerset, have installed flood defences around their property. They described conditions as the scariest since their home was devastated by flooding in 2014, when 3 feet of water inside forced them to evacuate.
Mr Parker commented: "The thing was, in 2014, the whole process was much slower, it was almost like slow motion. Whereas this has happened so fast that nothing has actually been set up yet." Despite precautions, the couple noted water came straight up through the floor during the last serious flood.
Somerset Council reported an estimated 50 properties affected by flooding across Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford and West Camel following Storm Chandra. Council leader Bill Revans said: "The weather forecast remains challenging so we will be working with colleagues in the emergency services to ensure we are prepared should the situation continue to deteriorate."
Environmental and Infrastructure Challenges
The Environment Agency noted a rain gauge in Fulwood, Somerset, recorded the wettest seven-day period in at least 30 years last week. A spokesman stated: "Our incident response has been ahead of the curve - not behind it. Staff have been working hard 24/7 to protect people and property. We can't pump water into already full rivers. But as soon as they drop we are prepared to maximise that window of opportunity."
Floods minister Emma Hardy added: "Flooding is devastating and my thoughts are with the people affected. I am in regular contact with the Environment Agency on their response to the ongoing flooding in Somerset and Dorset who, alongside local authorities and the emergency services, are already taking action to keep communities safe."
Record Rainfall and Storm Statistics
Storm Chandra, named by the western Europe storm naming group shared between the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, brought significant disruption across parts of the UK. The highest rainfall total recorded was 115.1mm (4.5 inches) at White Barrow in Devon. At least six weather stations set new all-time January daily rainfall records, including Katesbridge in Northern Ireland which saw 100.8mm (4 inches), surpassing the previous record of 38.2mm (1.5 inches) set in 2005.
Tragically, a lorry driver died in the New Forest after crashing into a river on Tuesday in the aftermath of Storm Chandra. Hampshire Police confirmed the man, in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene in North Gorley, with inquiries ongoing to establish circumstances.
Calls for Improved Flood Response Framework
The National Fire Chiefs Council has called on the Government to consult on establishing a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England to respond to flooding incidents posing risk to life. Council chairman Phil Garrigan stated: "Firefighters routinely carry out water rescues, evacuate residents and support communities during major flooding events. But as climate change drives more frequent and severe flooding, it is no longer credible for this life-saving work to sit outside a clear statutory framework."
He emphasised that England faces increasing flood exposure, yet fire and rescue services respond "without the legal clarity or funding that exists elsewhere in the UK." This highlights growing concerns about preparedness for extreme weather events as climate patterns evolve.
