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Post by John Ruffle on Feb 24, 2006 14:08:17 GMT 1
Annette and I are in receipt of a prophetic word from a known source in USA indicating that there may be flooding in the City of London 1st and 2nd March 2006.
I have researched the evidence for possible flooding at that time, and can confirm that there is indeed a risk of flooding from very high (but not unknown) tides in the afternoon on both these days. (The high tide is predicting at around .1 to .2 meter higher than the tide in February 2004; the last time the Thames Barrier was raised into the flood defence position.) I cannot speak for the City of London financial district, but thousands of homes and community facilities are in risk areas, (including our home which is a few hundred yards from the river bank). We will update you on our own preparations on this thread. If nothing else, this will serve as a vital training exercise for the future, so it is a win-win situation.
The Thames Barrier is also scheduled for monthly routine maintenance on the morning of March 1st. This is not Internet chat; I've checked the Port of London and other sources.
Therefore, I am issuing a FLOOD ALERT warning, and will post precautionary measures that can be taken over the next 4 days. - Chaplain John
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Post by John Ruffle on Feb 24, 2006 16:57:20 GMT 1
I should point out that officially, at the time of posting no UK Flood Watch warnings have been issued. The advice we are giving on these forums is advisory only, and we cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred as a result of the use of this information.Follow this link for up-to-date flood warning information, updated every 15 minutes, from the UK Environment Agency: National Flood Warning Status
However, even if you find the message "There are no flood warnings in force" [as is the case today, 24th Feb '06] don't be lulled into a false security. There were no warnings of the Boxing Day Tsunami, either. Our advice is always, "be prepared!" There is a lot of advice and information on this government site, plus the option of checking the flood warning for your post-code.
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Post by John Ruffle on Mar 1, 2006 9:20:43 GMT 1
Okay, we said last week we were going on alert for flooding. Since the Environment Agency was showing all England and Wales regions as "all clear" we didn't want to call it an actual 'flood warning'. At 7:30pm last night, however, the status changed to FLOOD WATCH www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/23_T_1?time=1141155000 for the area Annette and I are living in. So we can say it is official now, and no one can say we are being flacky. Let me sya this right now -- we got 6 days advance warning because alert Christians -- watchmen if you like -- were on the ball, and the communications system was working. This is still a flood watch - not an alert - and we now have 8 hours until the tide peaks.
We have our emergency plan as in place as it is going to be, including a make shift kitchen arrangeemnt upstairs. We plan to only evacuate if we really have to - since we have the ability for the 7 of us to survive for at least a week inside the home. [Our daughter Hannah lives in a basement flat, so she would stay over here]. Below is what the Governement agency is now saying, not us:Current status:
Flood Watch
Status last changed at:
19:30 on 28-Feb-2006
Location:
The River Thames from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weirwww.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/23_T_1?time=1141155000
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Post by John Ruffle on Mar 1, 2006 16:37:07 GMT 1
How the Thames Barrier works:Basically the barrier is a series of ten separate movable gates positioned end-to-end across the river. Each gate is pivoted and supported between concrete piers that house the operating equipment. Closing the barrier seals off part of the upper Thames from the sea. When not in use the six rising gates rest out of sight in curved recessed concrete cills in the riverbed, allowing free passage of river traffic though the openings between the piers. If a dangerously high tidal surge threatens, the rising sector gates are moved up though about 90° from their riverbed position and the four radial gates are bought down into the closed defence position. The gates thus form a continuos steel wall facing down river ready to stem the tide. Further rotation of the gates to the horizontal maintenance position renders them accessible for routine maintenance. The width of the Barrier from bank to bank is about 520m with the four main openings each having a clear span of 61m. The four main gates are massive. Each is constructed as a hollow steel-plated structure over 20m high and weighing, with counterweights, about 3700 tonnes. Each is capable of withstanding an overall load of more than 9000 tonnes. There are two further gates of similar concept, albeit smaller, with 31m navigation openings and the four falling radial gates have non-navigable openings adjacent to the riverbanks. From the Environemntal Agency website;Link:www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/thames/323150/335688/341764/362880/?version=1&lang=_e
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Post by gwlmysj on Apr 30, 2008 9:31:59 GMT 1
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