The BBC's Matthew Price has spoken to families who have been flooded out of their homes.

He said: "Where will they live in the meantime, they ask? How will they get their kids to school? Will the insurance pay up? 

"They are questions being asked by thousands of households across a large part of Britain."

One family let the BBC film what their home looked like after the floods hit Carlisle a few weeks ago.

Councillor Mark Cowley, chairman of Croston Parish Council, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that everyone is worried about Storm Frank after flooding over Christmas.

He said: "We are still shell shocked from what happened on Boxing Day and we haven't recovered from what happened on Christmas Day either. But people are joining together in a massive community effort. 

"On social media we are using the tagline #crostontogether and it's words like that that are so meaningful and spot on."

As Storm Frank arrives in Cumbria, BBC News is offering live updates about its impact on the region.

Cumbria Police are advising people to only drive in the north and west of the county if they have to.

While northern parts of the UK are facing the worst of the weather, Storm Frank is also making its presence known further south.

BBC Weather's Matt Taylor looks at what to expect as Storm Frank travels over the UK.

Of the 5,500 Scottish homes without electricity, 1,700 of those are in Aberdeenshire, according to Scottish Hydroelectric Power Distribution, external. 

The main places affected are Chapel Hill, Rosehearty, Sandhaven, Fraserburgh and the Buchan area. 

Most homes were cut off during the night between midnight and 02:00 GMT. The company has told the BBC that it hopes to get the power back on by 13:00 GMT.

There may be strong winds hitting the UK, but it's even worse out towards Iceland.

The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning, external for Wednesday covering all mainland regions of Scotland with the exception of the Highlands.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued more than 60 flood warnings, external and 14 flood alerts.

In case you had forgotten, it has already been a wet and windy month.

Storm Desmond was the Met Office's fourth named storm of the season. 

It broke all previous UK rainfall records, with the Met Office saying Honister in Cumbria received 341.4mm (13.4in) of rain in the 24 hours between 4 and 5 December.

A number of residents have been evacuated in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, as the River Cree threatens to burst its banks, reports BBC Radio Scotland's Colin Colthart.

A rest centre has been set up in Douglas Ewart High School. The local police station has also been shut with a temporary base being set up at the local ambulance depot.

Dumfries and Galloway Major Emergency Scheme was officially activated at 06:00 GMT, to co-ordinate the response to the severe weather.

The BBC's science editor, David Shukman writes: 

"As the victims struggle with the misery of damage, mud and ruin, officials say we have entered an era of 'unknown extremes' of weather and they want a 'complete rethink' of how flooding is handled."

He adds that despite some aspects of the response being "infinitely improved from earlier disasters" questions are being raised about "why this effort is needed in the first place".

Motorcycle clubs have offered to assist police in patrolling flood-hit areas "as extra eyes and ears on the ground", according to West Yorkshire Police.  

Police have condemned looters who targeted flood victims' homes in York. A number of houses were broken into early on Monday, officers said.

Acting Supt Mark Grange, of North Yorkshire Police, said: 

Wednesday's weather forecasts feature in a number of newspapers this morning. The Express says a month's rain could fall today, while the Daily Mail features reports of looting at flood victims' homes.

More here.