Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Must be very frustrating not knowing what you might encounter in the next few hours.

I have been learning some Kentish Geography off my AA Road Atlas in the last hour and you seem to be nearest to Tilbury, of those high tide times which were given (see my earlier post).

Guessing your peak risk is probably around 3 am tonight? Isn't it a beggar that these things tend to happen in the dark and the cold.

Don't know how you organise yourselves, but might it be an idea (although you're probably there already) to have go-bags, wellies, warm clothes at the ready in case the Police knock on your door in the small hours to advise you to evacuate to a rest centre?

Thames Barrier set to be raised at 10 pm but the high tide is due at 11 pm and then 1 am further north than the Thames estuary, so should be some grace before the water comes barrelling up the Thames.

I know flood defenses are much improved upon previous decades but I'm concerned about the amount of places where new-builds have been put, where building never happened before, even on settlements which have been 1,000 years+ in the making. Could be some new houses will get their first baptism tonight; hope not but I know I've seen stuff built in my hometown on what I know fine well to be the river flood plain.

Fingers crossed trouble will come no further than the bottom of the road. GQ xx

VJsmum

It looks like dads place has been put on flood alert, rather than a severe warning. I am guessing that's because there are sea defences in place. Here's hoping - the last thing my 82 year old rather hefty and disabled dad needs is to be getting in a boat

Wyre

Thanks GQ, I have been getting the kids to get things together and they have instructions over what extras they will need to carry to the car should we get the knock. High tide is 2.31am.

Goldiegirl

I've been at work today, and don't get much chance to look at the news while I was there.


When I left for work they were predicting the worst storm surge for 30 years, this now seems to have been upgraded to the worst in 60 years.


Sandwich is on the east cost of Kent. On the South East TV news they were reporting from the town centre, where there was a huge pile of sand, and worried residents were making their own sandbags.


Here on the the north coast of Kent, according to the Environment Agency website, looks like the Swale, Sheppey and the Isle of Grain could all be badly affected.


I'm originally from Grays in Essex, and that side of the Thames isn't looking good either. The map seems to imply more extensive flooding than my mum used to tell me about , during the 1953 floods.


I noted the Thames Barrier is going up - I hope the defences downriver have been beefed up enough. This looks like this will be the Barrier's biggest test so far.


I don't know if anyone has read the two novels by Richard Doyle, called 'Flood', which is a fictionalised account of a flooding event. The first one came out in about 1978, and then he did another one about ten years ago, with an updated story, to take into account the building of the Barrier. Essential reading for me, being a south Essex / north Kent type of person

greenbee

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: OMG, WCS, glad you and yours are safe indoors, sounds like your coast in getting hammered. Glad the fishing boat tied up safe.

Good to have our 'strays' checking in, we need Mar and MG and a few other MSE friends to touch base but they may have their leccy off.

MG's been on FB and her blog and seems to have suffered only minor damage. I'm guessing Mar is without electricity or internet... pity the poor RV :cool:

GreyQueen

I'm pretty sure I've read the updated version of Flood; the Thames Barrier featured strongly in that. Scary stuff. The stuff which is feasible is always the stuff which worries me; zombs are just entertainment.

Hull is reported to have flooded badly with high tide still 30 mins off. Must be horrible being on the coast and waiting for it to come down, mile by mile, minute by minute.

Said in the newspaper that some east coast evacuees could be looking at being in rest centres for 36 hours, to cover this tide and the next two which are expected to be bad. My BOB contains a full change of clothes, several changes of socks and undies and a washbag, to accomodate just such a thing.

If you think you might have to bail out of your homestead, remember the medications (if applicable) and the chocolate.........:EasterBun

Got the bread made and cooling on the rack and think I will nip down to the river at first light tomorrow to see what pertains - it's only 50m away and if SHTF out at sea, there's a risk the beggar could back up like a drain.

Oh, and it's getting bad in Europe, too; Hamburg is getting it and their Fish Market is flooded. I've seen a pic but don't know to what depth. Here's hoping Homesteadchick is OK in the Netherlands.

If you're reading, pet, take care.

ETA; thanks for the update, greenbee. I'm guessing Mar is snug beside her stove knitting socks by lamplight. Hope she has some sweeties or I can see the RV having a smack upside the ear with the coal shovel if it goes on too long.............. ;p

Shropshirelass

We had terrific wind last 24 hours, roof tiles were jumping up and down, seems to have settled now. Trees down across the county, branches, bins and planks blowing around, no trains running Cardiff to Holyhead, some nasty RTAs. Wind quieter now, but expecting rain and very cold.

We wont be flooded up here, though clay mud on roads is a problem, our worry is we might loose the roof :eek: if wind returns, we've never heard it like that before. Also town has been temporarily cut off by flooding in previous heavy rain, could be awkward for some. River Severn floods after heavy/continuous rain in Wales. I see River Dee has flooded at Chester - it is tidal there.

Thoughts are with all peeps in Scotland and Ireland, and on the coasts. Keep cool and have confidence in your preps. Choc and sweeties allowable for medicinal purposes in emergencies.

suzybloo

De lurking to say I hope everyone is safe and warm, our electric was on and off with the gale force winds, we have had snow also. It's times like this that preparing for SHTF scenarios is worthwhile. Candles set out, flasks filled, torches at hand etc, simple but effective means to help make things easier.

[Deleted User]

Shropshirelass wrote: »

We had terrific wind last 24 hours

Try these.

Shropshirelass

I wondered who would pick up on that!