Canada flooding forces evacuations, military deployment

OTTAWA, Canada — The Canadian army has begun to deploy in eastern Canada, where flooding from heavy rain forced new evacuations on Saturday ahead of peak floods expected on Monday or Tuesday.

Water levels continued to rise on Saturday from Toronto and Lake Ontario up to 500 kilometers (300 miles) downstream of the St. Lawrence River, especially in Quebec province, where some 400 troops have been dispatched.

The worst is yet to come, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard warned on Saturday.

“The water will continue rising over the next two or three days,” he said after visiting the town of Rigaud, east of Montreal, which has been flooded for more than a week.

The government ordered the troop deployment on Friday.

“Our troops are responding quickly and professionally, and are already beginning to deliver critical support to Canadians affected by the flooding,” Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said on Saturday.

Torrential rains have added to runoff from melting snow that has caused rivers to overflow their banks, posing a critical situation from Ottawa to Montreal.

The emergency services warned that rising waters would reach regions east of Montreal, where precipitation by Sunday night could reach between 90 and 125 millimeters (3.5 to 5 inches).

Near the Atlantic, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization warned residents to remain on alert until Monday, saying water levels are near or above flood stage in many regions and expected to rise.

In Quebec, the province hardest hit by the flooding, more than 1,500 homes have been flooded in 121 towns and cities and nearly 1,000 people evacuated, the emergency services said.

“I understand people are reluctant to leave their homes,” Couillard said, “but if you’re asked, do it for your own safety. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Flood warnings issued amid heavy rain in California

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Forecasters issued flash flood warnings Monday throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California as downpours swelled creeks and rivers in the already soggy region.

The National Weather Service said heavy rain could persist into the evening and was expected to cause flooding on the Carmel River in Monterey County and Coyote Creek in Santa Clara County.

In the San Joaquin Valley, residents were patrolling levees for signs of danger, reviewing evacuation plans and filling hundreds of sand bags as the San Joaquin River kept rising.

“Our community is pulling together like real champs,” said San Joaquin River Club resident Paula Martin, who is helping coordinate emergency plans for the private neighborhood of 800 homes.

Martin said the neighborhood has sirens in a clubhouse and church that can warn residents of impending flooding.

The weather service issued snow and wind advisories, including a flash flood warning for the Soberanes burn area in Monterey County. It said winds could reach 60 mph in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Santa Cruz County had seen 2.8 inches of rain in 24 hours and could see up to 8 inches before the storm passes Tuesday. Marin County got 2.3 inches of rain while close to an inch fell in San Francisco.

Forecasters said rainfall in San Francisco has already surpassed the normal annual amount for the wet season that begins in October.

The city has logged 24.50 inches of rain since Oct. 1, said forecaster Bob Benjamin. The average rainfall for the year ending Sept. 30 is 23.65 inches.

A pre-evacuation advisory was issued for a community in Madera County after water discharges from Bass Lake were increased and threatened to swell rivers, officials said.

The Fresno Bee reported (http://bit.ly/2m5S8NG) that the order was issued for several roads near downtown North Fork, about 10 miles from the lake.

The sheriff’s office said residents should be ready to leave quickly if conditions worsen.

In the mountains, the weather service forecast heavy snow in the Lake Tahoe area with a high avalanche danger until Tuesday in an area of the Sierra Nevada from Yuba Pass to Ebbetts Pass.

Forecasters say the winter storm could drop up to 5 feet of snow in areas above 7,500 feet while lower elevations could see between 8 and 24 inches of snow.

Forecasters advised motorists to avoid travel in the area through Tuesday.

Moderate to heavy rain along with snowmelt below 7,000 feet was expected to swell rivers and streams and increase the chance of flooding.

The San Joaquin River was approaching the top of levees and could remain at that level for four days, said Tim Daly, a spokesman with the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services.

“When the water gets that high and more water is coming, there is just too much pressure and levees can break,” Daly said. “They can be topped.”

The Don Pedro reservoir, which captures water from the Tuolumne River, a key tributary of the San Joaquin, was at 97 percent capacity.

The weather service also issued flash flood warnings for the North Bay and Monterey areas as well as south-central Alameda County and southeastern Santa Clara County.

In Alameda County, the weather service reported gauges on Alameda Creek were showing that rapidly rising water levels have surpassed local flood stages in Niles Canyon and a watershed above Sunol Regional Wilderness.

For the first time in more than 10 years, water flowed into  Lake Berryessa’s unique spillway.

The Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway, also known as the Glory Hole, operates similarly to a bathtub drain for the northern California lake.

The last time it spilled over was in 2006.

Elsewhere, the water level kept falling at Oroville Dam, where a damaged spillway had raised major flood concerns and prompted the evacuation of 188,000 people a week ago. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Seine water levels decrease again after Paris flooding peaks

PARIS—French authorities say the water level of the Seine river in Paris is starting to decrease after reaching its peak overnight, the highest in nearly 35 years.

But authorities warned it could take up to ten days for the river to come back to its normal levels after the flooding that swelled the river to about 4.5 meters (15 feet) above average levels in Paris.

Floods due to heavy rains have inundated parts of France, Germany and Belgium this week.

Over 17,000 homes were still without electricity Saturday in the Paris region and center of France.

Authorities have also shut the Louvre museum, the national library, the Orsay museum and the Grand Palais, Paris’ striking glass-and-steel topped exhibition center.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Flash floods kill at least 13 on French Riviera

NICE - Flooding caused by torrential rain along part of the French Riviera has killed least 13 people, officials said Sunday.

The downpour hit the Alpes-Maritimes region, which lies at the eastern end of France's Mediterranean coast and borders Italy, on Saturday evening.

Eight people have been found dead and another five are missing, the government's local office said. President Francois Hollande had earlier said there had been at least 12 deaths.

The first victims were three people killed at a retirement home that was flooded in Biot, local officials said.

In the resort town of Cannes, which hosts the annual film festival, the train station was flooded, leading to the interruption of local rail services, while cars were swept along streets by torrents.

The flooding led to the closure of a local stretch of the A8 motorway and left thousands of homes without electricity.

In Nice, a soccer match between the town's team and Nantes for the French first division was abandoned midway due to the rain, while hundreds of people were stranded overnight at a concert venue after attending a show by French rock legend Johnny Hallyday. — Reuters

Insurance fears for flood-risk homes

Homeowners in flood-risk areas could find they are unable to get insurance for their properties unless a new agreement is reached in the next few weeks.

Until now, insurers have agreed to continue to offer cover to homes at vulnerable areas in exchange for government investment in flood defences.

However, this agreement, known as the Statement of Principles, is due to expire at the end of June.

And currently, insurers say they have no plans to renew the arrangement, as they feel the government is not spending enough on flood prevention.

Government & insurers standoff over flood cover

 

Gareth Lane, is head of home insurance at Confused.com.

He explains: "As things stand, no agreement has been reached between the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the government."

The ABI is the body that represents the insurance industry.

"Talks are ongoing but without a new agreement the existing arrangement will end next month."

Impact on home insurance costs

 

To date, there has not been any major change in the pricing or availability of buildings insurance, says Lane.

But he warns that expiration of the agreement could have several effects.

"Insurers might significantly raise your home insurance excess – the amount you contribute towards a claim.

"In some cases, a person's excess for flood damage might exceed £10,000."

Equally, says Lane, insurance providers may raise premiums for those living in areas that are at risk of flooding.

"This would create a situation where home insurance becomes a significant household expense – or even unaffordable."

Insurers may withdraw cover entirely

 

In the worst case scenario, there are concerns that insurers may refuse to insure properties in high-risk flood areas altogether.

"This would be extremely serious, as lenders won't offer mortgages to homeowners who don't have buildings insurance in place," says Lane.

"This could affect the housing market negatively in some areas.

"At the very least, properties that are very expensive to insure could be seen as less desirable, and that could be reflected in their value."

Insurers & government say flood talks 'continuing'

 

If insurers no longer guarantee to provide cover in areas where no improvements in flood defences are planned, this could leave up to 200,000 homeowners across the country unable to get affordable home insurance.

This is according to the ABI.

The impact of this would be that these individuals would be unable to remortgage or sell up and move, as lenders won't offer mortgages to homeowners who don’t have buildings insurance in place.

A spokesman for the ABI says: "We continue in discussions with the government on the model we have developed to safeguard the availability and affordability of flood insurance for those at high risk.

"In addition, we need consensus on sustained targeted flooding investment and sensible planning decisions.”

Government 'working with insurers'

 

A government spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says: "We want flood insurance to be affordable and remain widely available.

"We are working with the insurance industry to ensure this will be the case."

What action can homeowners take?

 

However, the end of June is looming ever-closer and, as things stand, there is still no sign of an agreement being reached any time soon.

This leaves those living in flood-risk areas in a potentially precarious position.

"The problem is, there is not much that homeowners can do to directly influence these negotiations – and certainly not in the small time-frame available," says Lane.

"However, if you live in a flood-risk area and come home insurance renewal time you are not happy with the premium or excess offered, you don't have to accept this.

"It's definitely worth shopping around, as other insurers may well offer you a better deal."

How to get flood cover

 

Most home insurance policies will cover flood and storm damage.

But levels of cover do vary between insurers, so dig out your home insurance policy to find out exactly what you are covered for.

Preparation is key so keep abreast of wet weather warnings.


You can register online with the Environment Agency's Floodline Warnings Direct service, which provides flood warnings by phone, text or email.

A similar flood alert service is run by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

If you live in England or Wales, the Environment Agency produces flood maps which are viewable online. Scottish residents should contact SEPA.

source: confused.com

Flooding brings chaos to Philippine capital

Manila, Philippines (CNN) -- Fueled by seasonal monsoon rains and a nearby tropical storm, widespread flooding in the Philippines worsened Tuesday, causing a landslide that killed nine members of a family, the national disaster agency reported.

The landslide in the Manila suburb of Quezon City buried two houses, leaving the nine people dead and four others injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center.

Three of the dead were children, the state-run Philippines News Agency reported.

The capital city of Manila got 504 millimeters (about 20 inches) of rain Tuesday, PNA reported, with more on the way.

The country's weather service -- the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration -- warned the region's 12 million residents of continued torrential rains and serious flooding through Wednesday.

The national railroad called off service, and many roads were under water. Some dams were beginning to overflow, putting more communities at risk, authorities said.

The flooding has already forced nearly 130,000 people across the country from their homes, the disaster agency said. About 78,000 were staying in emergency shelters Tuesday night, the agency said.

Rescue requests continued to come in early Wednesday, including some people who were using Twitter to contact authorities for help.

"Pregnant woman needs help! Staying on top of a roof," one Twitter user posted, followed by an address. "Please help BORRES FAMILY w/ 2y/o child!!," posted another.

The weather agency warned residents to expect more landslides and flash flooding, and authorities urged residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground to keep the death toll from the flooding from rising beyond the current 53.

In an effort to save lives and make way for rescue and relief efforts, President Benigno Aquino ordered work suspended at government and private offices around the capital region Tuesday.

Government offices and schools were also to be closed Wednesday, the president's office said.

"It's like a water world," PNA quoted Benito Ramos, head of the disaster agency, as saying of the city.

Deep water in many parts of metropolitan Manila blocked roads, stranded cars and flooded homes. In several areas, the water was waist deep or higher, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said in its Twitter feed.

"Last night it was raining cats and dogs, or even like elephants banging on your roof top," said CNN iReporter Rummel Pinera. "You cannot sleep when it's raining for several hours like this, it was like a deluge."

Another iReporter, Jumar Rejuso, said the downpour was terrifying.

"We had to force ourselves to leave in order to be spared from the wrath of the raging waters," he said. "It was the first time I have witnessed in my entire life a flood as big as that."

Flooding has struck across the Philippines, with high water reported in 46 communities across the country, the disaster agency reported.

Authorities in Marikina City imposed a forced evacuation of areas near the Marikina River, which has risen above critical levels, PNA reported.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the Ambuklao, Binga and San Roque dams were releasing water, putting several cities at a higher risk of flooding. The agency warned residents living near the dams to be on the lookout for rising waters.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas said Tuesday that the United States would provide $100,000 for disaster relief.

The rain and flooding are the result of the normal summer monsoon enhanced by the effects of Tropical Storm Haikui, the Philippines weather service said. The storm was about 258 miles southeast of Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The country had already been lashed by heavy rain and wind in recent weeks resulting from Tropical Storm Saola, which plowed past it before hitting Taiwan and China at the end of last week.

The country is frequently subjected to flooding and landslides caused by heavy rain. In December, Tropical Storm Washi left more than 1,200 people dead after it set off flash floods that swept away entire villages in the southern Philippines.

source: CNN