ALMOST 3,000 homes in Surrey have been issued with flood warnings as Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue, councils, South East Coast Ambulance and the Environment Agency unite to protect residents against the deluge.
Dedicated teams from each service, along with support from the NHS and military, are working closely to keep people safe and protect properties and the local infrastructure against the impact of rising floodwater.
The Environment Agency says continued rainfall after the wettest January since 1766, has caused the very high river flows and flooding in parts of Surrey.
In Staines there is currently 410 tonnes of water passing through the town.
There are currently nine severe flood warnings – which warn of a threat to life - in place along the Thames stretches of Surrey and 15 flood warnings.
Authorities are encouraging those in affected areas to consider this longer term picture and plan for continued high levels of water over the coming days.
Ian Tomes, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager said "Our role includes deploying demountable defences, monitoring the performance of permanent defences and making emergency repairs where necessary, deploying booms and sandbags along riverbanks, clearing river blockages, monitoring water levels and sending out flood warnings, producing mapping and detailed river forecasts and sharing information with key partners."
Chief Superintendent Matt Twist, of Surrey Police, added: "Overnight we have continued to see a rise in water levels resulting in an increase in evacuations particularly around Staines and Egham.
"It is extremely distressing to have to leave your home during a flood and whilst we have not had any reports, we are putting in place anti-crime initiatives in evacuated areas, increasing our resources, to protect evacuated properties from criminal activity.
"This is a challenging situation but we are doing everything we can to help protect people, their homes and businesses using the flood plans and contingency planning we have in place."
