Flood warnings: Norfolk coastal homes evacuated

Summary

Evacuation advice was issued to homes and businesses on Monday
The threat from the sea has been centred on Snettisham, Heacham and Hunstanton
High tide passed at 08:40 BST on Tuesday with little flooding
A change in wind direction meant waves were not as strong as expected
The all-clear was given for the area just before 10:00 BST
All flood warnings have been lifted in the county but seven flood alerts remain in place
The Environment Agency has asked residents to remain vigilant with further high tides due

Live Reporting

Quiet so far at Hunstanton Community Centrepublished at 08:30 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Jill Bennett
BBC Radio Norfolk
There are only two people here at the Hunstanton Community Centre, where a rest centre has been set up for people evacuated from their homes.
Ruth is here with her daughter Phoebe. She told me she came here early this morning, just in case the roads were closed.
She is "well prepared", she said, and has already moved everything to a safe place, out of the way of any possible floodwater.
'I'm up and ready'published at 08:19 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Martin Barber
BBC News
Peter Gillard lives inside the flood zone in Hunstanton, but he's not worried.
He says he has lived here for many years and flooding has never been a concern.
"I never thought it would over-top today - it's not going to happen," he told me.
He is a bit annoyed that he had to get up early to prepare, but said there had been a reasonable amount of warning, so he made sure he had a cup of tea.
"People were warned. I'm up and ready if it does go over the top, which I doubt it will."
Police: 'Stay with family and friends'published at 08:08 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
BBC Radio Norfolk
Since yesterday, Norfolk Fire Service and council staff have knocked on about 3,000 doors, asking people to leave their homes along the Norfolk coast.
Ch Insp Amie Abbs of Norfolk police is asking people affected by the evacuation to stay with family and friends this morning or go to Hunstanton Community Centre on Avenue Road.
The advice applies to everyone in affected areas of Hunstanton, Snettisham and Heacham while the order is in force until 10:00.
Her advice is: "Stay away from the promenade, coastal walks, car parks and single bank along this particular coastline as we are monitoring the tide".
The 'lull before the storm'published at 07:35 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Alex Dunlop
BBC Look East
As high tide is expected to hit at 08:40, it is definitely the lull before the storm here in Hunstanton.
The sea was a lot rougher at midnight, but in the next hour the winds are expected to pick up to force four or five, so then there could be a serious risk of flooding.
About 3,000 properties affected by the precautionary notice of evacuation by the Environment Agency, but as the majority are caravans, they are mostly unoccupied.
Hunstanton quiet ahead of high tidepublished at 07:11 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Martin Barber
BBC News
It’s just getting light in Hunstanton under a grey and heavily clouded sky. The prom is quiet and we’ve seen fewer than half a dozen people in the last hour.
A dog walker was asking what all the fuss was about, and another early walker said she’d seen it much worse at the point before high tide.
On South Beach Road one of the amusement arcades has sandbags outside, just in case.
Weather: Severe weather warning in placepublished at 07:09 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather
There is a yellow weather warning in place from 06:00 to 20:00.
The day will start dry in places but showers will move in, some heavy and prolonged, with the risk of lightning and locally torrential downpours.
There will be some sunny intervals in between the showers.
Maximum temperature: 13 to 16°C (55 to 61°F).
'The risk is real'published at 06:59 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
BBC Radio Norfolk
The message from David Young from the Environment Agency is simple this morning. "The risk is real," he said.
The agency is advising people to leave their homes and caravans from 07:00 BST, as the high tide is expected at about 08:40.
"We do have staff out and about, and patrolling the coast at the moment," he said.
People should remain vigilant and take care, he added.
If anyone has any concerns they should call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or check the Flood Risk website., external
Sea 'higher than normal' in Hunstantonpublished at 06:42 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Martin Barber
BBC News
I'm in Hunstanton where a rest centre has been set up, and I've been speaking to cousins Kyle Chappell, 20, and Josh Cave, 22.
Kyle told me: "I walked out of mine about six o’clock this morning and all I could hear was the waves crashing on the beach.
"From my house just up the hill you can’t normally.
"I feel like I’m all right because I’m on a higher area, but looking at the sea you can see it’s much higher than normal this far ahead of the high tide."
Risk of flooding still unchangedpublished at 06:33 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Tim Addicott
BBC Radio Norfolk
This morning the Environment Agency has said that the risk of flooding has not changed since last night.
Winds are expected to be around the same as their predictions and therefore three flood warnings are still in place.
Image caption,
Hunstanton is one of the places that has been warned to expect flooding
Stay tuned to BBC Radio Norfolkpublished at 06:24 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
BBC reporters are out in west Norfolk to bring us the latest on the flood threat.
You can listen to BBC Radio Norfolk via BBC Sounds.
It's available on your FM/AM radio on 104.4 MHz/873 kHz in west Norfolk, 95.6 in north Norfolk and 95.1 MHz/855kHz in east Norfolk ... and also on your DAB radio/TV.
Flood warnings: A guidepublished at 06:10 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
The Environment Agency has three categories of flood warning:
- Severe flood warning: Severe flooding - danger to life
- Flood warning: Flooding is expected - immediate action is required
- Flood alert: Flooding is possible - be prepared
Image source, Environment Agency
About 11,500 live in affected 'severe' warning areaspublished at 06:06 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
The populations of the three main urban areas affected by the evacuation notice are:
- Hunstanton: 4,229
- Heacham: 4,750
- Snettisham: 2,570
These figures are from the 2011 census.
Image source, David and Rachel Landin/Geograph
Image caption,
Heacham's promenade stands between The Wash and the beach huts and caravan parks
Caravan park residents 'will move out if needed'published at 06:05 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
About 30 caravans at the Snettisham Caravan Park, external are occupied and residents are being advised that they need to leave at about 07:00 BST if the threat from the sea materialises.
Speaking on Monday, Ivan Warwick, who works on the beachside site, said: "If the wind gets up and it rains hard, it [the sea] could come over.
"Hopefully they'll leave. There's panic that's going through because nobody knows what's going to happen."
He said their advice was to go to the village's community centre until 10:00 when the tide would have receded.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
Google Earth shows how close Snettisham's caravan parks are to the sea
Flood alerts issued on north and east Norfolk coastspublished at 06:00 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
Flood alerts have also been issued by the Environment Agency, external in north and east Norfolk, warning that flooding is possible and people should "be prepared".
These are less serious than the flood warning covered by red triangles.
They have been issued for low-lying areas on the north Norfolk coast from Old Hunstanton to Salthouse, taking in Brancaster, Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea and Blakeney.
Image source, Environment Agency
Similar warnings are in place for The Broads, covering the tidal River Yare and River Waveney areas.
Image source, Environment Agency
Evacuation notice issued for West Norfolkpublished at 05:58 British Summer Time 1 October 2019
With a threat of Tuesday's 08:40 BST high tide and force six north-westerly winds, the Environment Agency issued a Precautionary Evacuation Notice in West Norfolk on Monday morning.
People have been advised to leave caravans and properties in and around Snettisham, external, Heacham, external and Hunstanton, external.
This advice applies between 07:00 and 10:00.
The agency said a rest centre was being set up, and people are advised to ring King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council on 01553 616200 for more details.