Flood updates from 16-20 February
No further "significant rises" are expected on the River Teme in Tenbury Wells, said the Environment Agency.
Image source, Environment Agency
Image source, Environment AgencyWater is slowly receding in the town, the Environment Agency's Dave Throup said.
"Horrible sight with many flooded homes and businesses."
A woman swept away in floodwater near Tenbury Wells on Sunday is feared to be dead.
Police said their search today was expected to be a recovery operation, rather than a rescue.
Image source, Getty ImagesA man was recovered from water in the same incident at Eastham Bridge and was airlifted to hospital.
He remains in a stable condition, said West Mercia Police.
Ch Supt Tom Harding said: “Last night for safety reasons and with a heavy heart, the rescue operation was called off.
"It was not a decision that any of the emergency services took lightly, but fire and rescue colleagues who were coordinating the operation took the decision as conditions became extremely challenging due to darkness and fast flowing floodwater."
The search has continued this morning including the use of the police helicopter, the force added.
Today Programme
BBC Radio 4
Sarah Bridge in Pontilras, Herefordshire, tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme she has not had contact from any authority despite being flooded twice in four months.
"I have had no contact whatsoever from any authority - and neither have my neighbours - in relation to these two catastrophic events," she says.
Image source, Google"There is a great deal of work that goes on in the city… but for those of us in rural communities we seem to be totally forgotten. We seem to be left to deal with it ourselves."
Ms Bridge was forced to evacuate to the upper floors of her house after surging water overwhelmed her family's efforts to keep the flooding at bay on Sunday.
She says the same situation occurred at the end of October and that work to repair her kitchen from that flood was due to begin later on Monday.
"Instead we find ourselves with a sodden house and another three or four months of no capability to heat our home or to cook or do the normal things of life like laundry".
George Eustice, who became environment secretary in the cabinet reshuffle last week, tells BBC Breakfast that extreme weather events like Storm Dennis are “becoming more frequent”.
“We are sadly suffering more and more of these extreme weather events. With this particular storm, because it came on the back of other storms and the land was already saturated, because there were quite widespread impacts, this is having effects right across the country,” he says.
Andrew Marston
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Families rescued from flooded properties in Hereford can be seen disembarking with their pets with other belongings.
It's been incredibly busy with about five boats ferrying people from their homes around Hinton Avenue and Hinton Crescent.
These are homes that you wouldn't expect to be flooded.
A couple of local residents have told me it wasn't until they built the flood defences in other parts of the city that we've now seen new areas affected.
An emergency evacuation is under way in Hereford, with police saying there is a "danger to life".
About five boats are ferrying people from homes affected in the city.
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Firefighters in Shropshire are urging drivers to avoid entering floodwater after receiving more than 300 calls during Storm Dennis, many of which were to rescue stranded motorists.
Jon Temple of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said there were "a lot of people stuck in their cars" after their vehicles "conked out" in the water.
He said there were also people stuck on top of their cars.
"Crews are having to risk their lives to save other people who have entered these types of waters," he said.
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Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM
A volunteer at a rescue centre in Tenbury Wells said she'd been left "shocked" by the effects of the floods.
The relief centre was set up at the high school after about 130 properties were evacuated on Sunday.
Nikki said: " We’re used to having a bit of rain here but we had no idea that the enormity of what would happen happened.
"The high school has been open since six yesterday morning and we’ve had staff on hand and volunteers round the clock. We’ve been able to feed, house, keep people warm, especially the vulnerable."
The town suffered severe flooding in 2007, and she also asked why more hadn't been done to protect the properties from flood water.
“What are we going to do to recover from this? We’ve done it, we’ve worked back, we’ve got to where we are today and we’re here again. Why has there not been something put in place to stop this happening to the town?"
The Teme in Ludlow was 4.35m high at 04:00 this morning above its typical range.
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A severe flood warning meaning there is a danger to life is in place for the River Teme at Ludlow, external.
The Environment Agency said the river level peaked at 5.2m on Sunday evening and it expects levels to stay high over the next couple of days.
Severe flood warnings are also in place on the river at Eardiston, Little Hereford and Ashford Carbonel, Tenbury Wells and Burford.
You can find the latest flood warnings here, external.
Image source, Environment AgencyAndrew Marston
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Herefordshire Council is urging people living on St Martin's Avenue, Wye Avenue, Hinton Avenue and Hinton Crescent in Hereford to consider evacuating their properties.
The River Wye has reached record levels in the city - 6.3m at Hereford Old Bridge and rising.
Hinton Road and the adjoining Hinton Avenue are eerily quiet - we've got nothing but the police here. There are ambulances parked up and we've got doctors here.
We've also got Western Power Distribution looking after properties without electricity.
The water is across both sides of the street, affecting properties.
It looks as though most people have already left their houses, and gone to stay with friends or at the emergency relief centre set up at the leisure centre on Holmer Road.
The British Red Cross says it has been liaising with local authorities, including Shropshire, offering to support people affected by Storm Dennis.
We are currently responding in Shropshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, and we are currently ready to help in Wales, Manchester, Buckinghamshire, Lancashire and Inverness," it said.
"Our volunteers know that when people are caught up in a crisis, one person's needs are different to the next person.
"The storms are expected to continue, and water is anticipated to be at peak levels on Monday and Tuesday. "It is important people are ready should the worst happen."
The Environment Agency said the situation in parts of Herefordshire and Worcestershire was "deteriorating".
"It is a serious situation. Travel is extremely difficult," Dave Throup said.
"This is not normal flooding, so please avoid travelling in this area if you can possibly do so."
More residents could be evacuated from their homes in Worcestershire this afternoon, the county council has warned.
Although in some areas river levels are dropping, they are set to rise again over the next few hours, peaking during the evening.
"The Environment Agency, West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, local authorities and ambulance service are working together and residents in some areas may be evacuated this afternoon", it said in an update., external
"Flood barriers are in place throughout the region and more may be erected later today as necessary."
About 130 properties have been flooded in Tenbury Wells alone.
The city's business partnership has issued a reminder that shops will be open as normal today, despite travel difficulties in the area.
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Although Worcester Bridge is shut, the county council says it has started a shuttle service for pedestrians.
Carrington Bridge is only open west to east from Lower Wick and Rushwick.
Parts of Powick roundabout are under water.
Shuttle service set up for Worcester
In Ludlow, at least 27 properties were flooded yesterday, mainly on Temeside and Lower Corve Street.
Coronation Avenue (pictured) was also threatened.
Tony Edwards, who has lived in the town since 1963, said it was the worst flooding he'd seen and much worse than 2007.
His daughter's house was one of about 10 flooded on Temeside.
"She was at work yesterday and one of her customers came in and said 'you'd better get back to your house'.
"She couldn't get in, because the water was halfway up the door.
"She's staying with a friend at the moment and I'm going to go down and see what the damage is like."
Norman Smith
Assistant political editor
The government has announced it is activating its emergency funding scheme to help areas hit by Storm Dennis.
Ministers have agreed to allow a number of affected local councils to apply for funding under the Bellwin scheme.
The scheme allows councils to apply for 100% of the non-insurable costs they incur to deal with storm damage.
The areas approved include in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
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Dozens of roads have been affected by floodwater in Worcestershire.
Roads around Tenbury Wells are virtually all impassable, with the only road open via Leysters.
Routes into Worcester, including the A4440, Hylton Road and the A443 are all shut.
People are being advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Here's a list of roads affected:
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About 130 properties had to be evacuated in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire on Sunday, with more residents helped from their homes overnight.
A relief centre has been set up in the high school in the town.
Caroline Palethorpe said about 20 people had arrived overnight with the emergency services who had been "working their socks off".
"We've got 13 in still sleeping very well at the moment and two having breakfast, and we've got a number of volunteers here helping us while we wait to find out what happens next," she said.
"Thankfully it peaked last night at about half past six, and thankfully it is going down."
