Flooding 'may put lives at risk'

[Square Ball]

from the BeeB

Severe flood warnings are in place on parts of the east coast of England, with the Environment Agency warning of "extreme danger to life and property".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was chairing an emergency Cobra meeting, as low pressure and strong winds combined to cause a North Sea tidal surge.

Norfolk and Suffolk have seven severe flood warnings. Parts of Kent, Essex, North Yorks and Lincs are on alert.

The Dartford Creek and Thames barriers were set to be closed at 2000 GMT.

The flood alerts are a response to weather and tide patterns being tracked this week by the Environment Agency and the Met Office.

'Gravely concerned'

In a brief Commons statement on Thursday afternoon, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "A tidal surge of up to 3m [10ft] is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with peak high tides.

"There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft, and areas south of this as far as the coast of Kent."

FLOOD ALERTS EXPLAINED
Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now!
Flood Warning - Flooding of homes and businesses is expected. Act now!
Flood Watch - Flooding of low lying land and roads is expected. Be aware, be prepared, watch out!
Source: Environment Agency


Flood threat to England and Wales 

The Environment Agency's Simon Hughes said: "We're watching the situation very closely and we're gravely concerned about the scope for some serious flooding."

Wind speeds of about 50mph (80km/h) are predicted, with the storm surge expected to peak early on Friday morning.

There are seven severe flood warnings, nine flood warnings and 24 flood watches nationally, covering North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and the north Kent coast.

The severe warnings in place from Great Yarmouth down to Shingle Street, and on parts of the River Bure and River Yare, carry an Environment Agency alert stating: "Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now."

Suffolk County Council said it was considering whether to order people in vulnerable areas to leave their homes because of possible flooding, while in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, sandbagging preparations were under way.

Localised flooding

From the north Kent coast around to Sandwich and Deal, people were being asked to keep an eye on the weather and tides.

The impact there is expected to be less severe - with predicted tides 1.5m (5ft) above average - but there is still a risk of localised flooding.

The Environment Agency said it had put Dover District Council on alert that any cars parked at Sandwich Quay could be damaged by flood waters.

"We all need to be vigilant overnight and through tomorrow [Friday] lunchtime as we could see some localised flooding around the north Kent coast," said the agency's Brian Vinall.

The Environment Agency, Met Office, emergency services and council planners will be constantly assessing the tidal and storm situation throughout Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Large parts of East Anglia were left under water in 1953 when high tides and a storm saw a tidal surge of 3.2m (10ft 6in).

The Environment Agency said it was "much better prepared now", but the Met Office added that it was predicting the highest tide since 1983 in Felixstowe, Suffolk.

[gerry]

may get the buckets out then

[Balboa]

They are closing the Thames barrier shortly.

[Square Ball]

Thankfully that was a a bit of a damp squib

[billy the kid]

I think the GPA should be ashamed of themselves they are undermining everything the GAA stands for.  What they are asking for is Pay for |Play dressed up in fancy clothes.

They are an elitist Organisation who are only concerned with themselves and I firmly believe its a case of a few leading the many.

Don't get me wrong i totally agree with players being treated well and looked after if they get injured but they are always looking for more and more.

Currently every season inter-county players in Derry get:

2 pairs of boots
2 full kits a season,
2 full sets of training gear. (1 wet and 1 normal)
1 rain jacket
1 zip up top
1 jumper
2 polo shirts
1 tracksuit
Home training Equipment
Free access to state of the art gym

All the above are official Derry gear from O neills with emblems and crests and this is only the gear I KNOW FOR CERTAIN they get!

Also they have access to a top class physio, team doctor dietician and heart screening facilities.

they receive meals after ALL games and on the way to away games

they get fed after every training

and they also get VERY GOOD rebates on their mileage expenses.

Again these are jut the things i KNOW FOR CERTAIN!!

for each national league game they receive 4 passes each allowing friends and family to gain admission to the games for FREE and the passes can be used for both hurling and football even if only involved in one code.

They receive at least 2 and sometimes more FREE tickets for ALL championship matches they are involved in

They receive 2 good tickets for the all Ireland final in their code (hurling or football) for FREE

Before the club championship begins they receive a pass allowing them to gain FREE entry to ALL championship matches within the county in EITHER code at ANY level
 
The above list was given to me when I asked a PRESENT COUNTY PLAYER from our club about conditions at inter-county level.

I don't think anyone would begrudge them these things as the gear and medical farcicalities are a MUST and so are the mileage expenses and the meals.

The other stuff are added perks and again I would say Just right they are training very hard and giving a big commitment to Our County.

Looking at the list I would say our county players are fairly well looked after wouldn't you? And this is just the example of our county alot of other counties like Armagh and Tyrone get even more gear and perks which again is fair enough.

But to ask for money and to make out that they are so hard done by and listening to some of their leaders you'd think some were hardly fit to feed themselves and on the way to financial ruin is an absolute myth and border line lie!! Nobodies making them play!!!

What ever happened to being proud to play for your county and pride in the jersey? That used to be enough to make people play for their counties.

Has Pride and honour fallen of the radar of the GPA in their obsession with self-worth and self-gain.
If pride in the jersey and being honoured to represent your County plus the list i have supplied aren't enough to make individuals play for OUR county teams do we really want them to? The type of character who would undermine the very fabric of our great organisation to line his own pockets.   

I was also informed by the County player from my own Club that most county players don't want to strike but are being openly pressurised to do so. Is this Democracy?

Its also evident the GPA are so far removed from the grassroots GAA and the supporters that they haven't noticed that the vast majority are strongly against it, but why would they listen to us mere mortals?

Down Manager Ross Carr has the right idea:

If these prima donnas strike and refuse to play Each County should find a panel of players who will represent their counties for pride honour and the other perks i listed. There would be a stampede to trials and it would totally negate the strike and render their actions futile and meaningless.

We cannot let the elitist few hold the rest of us to ransom while they try to gain financially for doing what most TRUE Gaels consider an Honour and a privilege – PLAY FOR YOUR COUNTY  

[the Deel Rover]

 all along its the gpa thats been causing the floods and climate change they have a lot to answer for that lot