Meanwhile, in the UK: That Rainy Day Feeling.

Posted by Cockney Robin | Some Americans are apparently aware that the UK has been suffering from record floods.  The Washington Post---which has evidently annoyed Damozel with a lengthy article discussing Hillary Clinton's recent unprecedented neckline--- also posted this concise article concerning the flooding. But don't think I am bitter; I am merely---as ever---bemused.

The Washington Post article says that the UK is beginning recovery after the worst floods in half a century.  (Washington Post)  This is partly true. Unfortunately, the rains---or, as The Guardian puts it, "the worst floods in modern British history"--- seem unlikely to let up just yet.  In fact, the Environment Agency has warned that another 24 hours of rain is in store.(Guardian) Prime Minister Brown attributes the flooding to climate change.(Guardian) He's promised to provide 200 million quid (pounds) to the Environment Agency over the next three years to improve flood defences.  Sadly, the Environment Agency seems to think solving the problem will take more in the area of one billion a year. (Guardian)

You can see photos here.   You can see an interactive map here.

Meanwhile, the recriminations have already begun.  It seems that in 2004 and 2005, the government received reports warning that measures in place to defend against flooding were inadequate without taking the necessary steps to do anything about it.. (Guardian)  The Environment spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne, said:

The government has been looking at an integrated approach for more than three years, but did not act on its own analysis in 2005. Ministers have been in and out of the revolving door at the department, and now we are to have another review to look at exactly the same issues again."(Guardian)

There have been quite a few deaths.  In the hardest hit areas, there are serious concerns about sewage contamination and inadequate water supply.  (Independent)  In Gloucester, "[e]mergency services battled to deliver bottled water supplies to 350,000 people across Gloucestershire who have been without running water since Sunday." (BBC) The Association of British Insurers is presently anticipating 2 billion quid in claims.(BBC)

Brit blogger.Jane of Jane's the One writes:

[W]hen I was young it used to rain a lot, and most of the rain was drizzle. Now in the UK you get this monsoon stuff, with raindrops the size of dinner plates, and we have the army rescuing people in Gloucestershire. Well, I lived in Gloucestershire many years ago and there were times I thought the county should be drowned, but I take it back. The BBC says this afternoon that 350,000 people are going to lose their drinking water supply in the next few hours. Now the BBC is quite fond of disaster stories and of exaggerating doom, but still, it's all a bit much. (whatever happened to drizzle?)

I'm wondering the same thing actually.

LINKS!

1. The flooding continues (Guardian; photos)
2. More homes evacuated amid floods (BBC)
3. Flood Claims to Top 2 Billion (BBC)
4. Flood victims told not to panic as bowsers run dry (Independent)
5. Britons Begin Recovery After Worst Floods in Half-Century (Washington Post)
6. Ministers warned three years ago over flood defence failings (Guardian)
7. Flood victims warned of more rain on the way (Telegraph)
8. Hillary Clinton's Tentative Dip Into New Neckline Territory (Washington Post)