Storm Babet: Amber alert issued as strong winds and heavy rain expected to hit UK
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A rare red weather warning has come into place across eastern Scotland, with “exceptionally heavy and persistent rain” causing travel chaos and flooding fears.
An entire town has been evacuated over flooding fears as Storm Babet batters Scotland with landslides and a potentially record amount of rain.
Residents of Brechin in Angus have been ordered to leave after the “danger to life” weather warning was issued, while around 10,000 homes in Scotland have lost power due to the storm.
The red warning for rain is now from 6pm today until noon Friday as “exceptionally heavy and persistent rain” hampers down across eastern Scotland.
In Ireland, the army was deployed after Cork County Council said more than a month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours, leading to unprecedented flooding.
People were forced to wade through water, and dramatic footage showed one local kayaking down a street, while defence forces supported evacuation measures.
Severe weather warnings for rain and wind have been issued for several UK areas, covering already-saturated parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern and eastern England.
Have you been affected by Storm Babet? We want to hear from you. Write to maryam.zakir-hussain@independent.co.uk.
Storm Babet could hit more parts of Scotland in coming days
The Deputy First Minister warned that Storm Babet could hit more parts of Scotland in the coming days.
Shona Robison said: “We are only at the start of this weather event – that’s really important for people to appreciate.
“There is the risk, danger, and possibility of more areas being affected so we will make sure that any changes are communicated as quickly as possible.”
Storm Babet could hit more parts of Scotland in the coming days
Deputy first minister denies residents should have been evacuated sooner
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister denied that residents should have been evacuated from areas expected to be hit by Storm Babet sooner.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Shona Robison described it as a “moving situation”.
She said: “The services are doing their best to act as quickly as they can.
“Everybody is working very, very hard to make sure particularly those vulnerable people are supported to leave their homes.
“Those that are vulnerable will be put up in hotel accommodation.”
Latest pictures from Stonehaven Harbour
The UK is bracing for heavy wind and rain from Storm Babet, the second named storm of the season.
Waves at Stonehaven Harbour
Met Office’s rare red weather warning for Scotland comes into force
A rare red weather warning has come into force in eastern Scotland as Storm Babet batters parts of the country.
The storm is expected to bring extreme rain, wind and flooding that could be a threat to life.
People in Angus and south Aberdeenshire, as well as parts of Perth, Dundee and Kinross, have been urged to stay at home and to avoid travel.
Scotland’s Deputy Minister says Storm Babet is ‘very serious situation’
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Shona Robison described Storm Babet as a “very serious situation”.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, she said: “Red warnings are not often issued by the Met Office so it’s very important that people pay attention to those.
“People should check in with Police Scotland or Transport Scotland to make sure they know whether their area is covered.
“People should absolutely not travel in those areas.”
Met Office extends Storm Babet red warning area in Scotland
Hundreds of residents have been told to evacuate their homes amid a red weather warning as Storm Babet sweeps across Scotland.
Angus Council is evacuating more than 400 homes in the red weather warning area “for their own safety”, with three rest centres set up.
Two further rest centres are being prepared in Aberdeenshire, for residents unable to remain in their homes.
The Met Office has extended the weather warning from the initial warning area to cover the area north of Perth and Aberfeldy.
A rare red weather warning stating there is a "risk to life" has been issued for parts of Scotland
Financial package could be more than allocated 10 million euro, says Varadkar
Leo Varadkar said he would not be able to say how much the financial package for Storm Babet damages would be, but said there could be potential for it to be more than the 10 million euro the Irish government has initially allocated.
“There’s an initial allocation of 10 million to help families and businesses that are affected, and clubs and voluntary organisations too, but it’s not capped at 10 million, that’s just the initial allocation that’s made,” the Taoiseach.
“What I’ve asked the council to do, is to really carry out an assessment of the damage to the public infrastructure, in particular the roads and bridges, send it in to us and then we’ll have to make a special allocation to cover that.”
Irish government will offer financial package to flooded homes and businesses
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the government will be offering a financial package to homes and businesses damaged in floods during Storm Babet.
Mr Varadkar visited some affected in Midleton, Co Cork.
“It’s very, very hard to know what to say. I visited a few places affected by floods in the past but this is particularly bad,” he said.
“Water levels rose very high, the water came very quickly, and of course, a lot of the water is dirty. So a lot of damage done here is to homes as well.
“But we’re not just here as a government to just to express solidarity, we’re here to help.
“So we’re putting in place a financial package to help homes that are affected, businesses that weren’t insured – clearly a lot of damage to roads and bridges as well and they’re going to need to be repaired.
“So we’re going to make sure that that help’s on the way and finally, just really want to express my thanks to all of the people who work in the emergency services, the public services, all the volunteers.”
Flooding in Midleton, Co Cork, caused by Storm Babet (Damien Rytel/PA)
Storm causes funerals to be postponed until next week- Aberdeenshire Council
Funerals have been postponed until next week by Aberdeenshire Council due to Storm Babet.
Leisure centres, recycling centres, and vaccination centres all closed early due to the red weather warning, and will be shut on Friday.
Rest centres were set up at Stonehaven Community Centre and Mearns Campus at Laurencekirk in a “proactive approach to safeguard community health and wellbeing” in anticipation of the worst weather.
Preparations are being made for additional rest centres in Aberdeenshire, and the local authority is looking into providing food for those who use them.
Burials are being postponed until “at least Monday next week”, as the council said “it is neither safe for mourners or staff”.
Storm Babet in pictures as town evacuated and roads collapse during red warning downpours
Storm Babet is wreaking havoc in the north of the UK, with hundreds of homes flooded or evacuated and two more days of torrential rain to come.
Red, amber and yellow weather warnings are in place for large parts of the country with heavy downpours set to move south on Friday and into the weekend.
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2023-10-19 16:19:45Z
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