Emergency Services Declare ‘Major Incident’ in Northamptonshire Amid Storm Bert Flooding

Emergency services in Northamptonshire have declared a major incident following flooding caused by Storm Bert. According to the county’s fire service, multiple alerts and warnings are still active, notably a severe warning for Billing Aquadrome, citing a threat to life. Approximately 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from the caravan site, situated near Northampton. West Northamptonshire Council stated it is operating a rest centre at Lings Forum Leisure Centre, accommodating around 84 people. Numerous roads across the county have been closed, and train services are not stopping at Northampton railway station, a situation expected to persist until Tuesday. A severe flood warning for the River Nene, encompassing Billing Aquadrome and adjacent business parks, was issued by the Environment Agency. Following substantial rainfall, Northamptonshire Police has also implemented road closures in sections of Northampton, Corby, and other areas within the county. Motorists have been advised to limit travel to essential journeys and to steer clear of floodwater. Additional details regarding closures and flooding are available on the websites of West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council. The county’s fire service reported that flood sirens were activated at Billing Aquadrome in the morning, and various agencies aided the park’s management in evacuating the premises. In a statement, it noted: “However, some people remain at the location, which is cut off from access, and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service expect to be carrying out boat rescues for the rest of the day.” It further stated: “A multi-agency response involving fire, police, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire councils, the Environment Agency and local NHS partners has been put together to ensure a joint response is in place to protect residents – with the potential for further severe weather expected later this week as well.” Ben Thornley, the Environment Agency’s area flood risk manager, commented that the county’s flooding represented “the highest flows [of water] through Northampton that we’ve ever seen.” He added: “180 tonnes of water a second was flowing through Northampton this weekend. We believe this is at least a one in a 100 flood.” He continued: “We expect significant challenges as the water travels down through the Nene catchment, heading through Thrapston and up towards Peterborough.” Photographs from the early morning depicted Northampton railway station submerged, though water levels have since decreased. Nevertheless, services will not be able to call at the station on Tuesday because of necessary engineering checks. Rail replacement buses are currently operating. For updates on Northamptonshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external sites. Details regarding its approach to external linking are provided.