Tidal Surge: Homes In Suffolk To Be Evacuated

5 December 2013, 14:05 | Updated: 5 December 2013, 18:19

Residents living in approximately 1,000 properties on the Suffolk coastline are being encouraged to evacuate as a tidal surge travels down the county this evening.

15:50pm: Two new rest centres set up. They are as follows:

  • St Felix School, Halesworth Road, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6SD

  • Kessingland Sports & Social Centre, 2 Glebe Road East, Kessingland, Suffolk, NR33 7QX

Where possible, people living in the 14 severe flood risk areas, as identified by the Environment Agency, should make arrangements to stay with friends or family outside the affected areas.
 
Alternatively, the Suffolk Resilience Forum has identified four rest centres in the county for people who are likely to need to relocate as a result of flooding. 
 

  • Water Lane Leisure, Water Lane, Lowestoft, NR32 2NH
  • Leiston Leisure Centre, Red House Lane, Leiston, IP16 4LS
  • Brackenbury Sports Centre, High Road East, Felixstowe IP11 9JF
  • Carlton Colville Village Hall, Hall Road, Carlton Colville Lowestoft NR33 8BT
  • St Felix School, Halesworth Road, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6SD
  • Kessingland Sports & Social Centre, Walmer Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 7LE

 
Rest centres will be open from 4pm and people who need this facility are encouraged to make their way to their nearest centre as soon as possible.

Police officers are in the process of visiting the affected properties in communities covered by the warnings, requesting that residents evacuate and giving details of their nearest rest centre.
 
Discussions are ongoing with community groups to identify if other centres need to be opened to meet local requirements.
 
David Skevington, Assistant Chief Constable, Suffolk Constabulary said: "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and would urge people in the areas likely to be affected to do the same.  Rest centres have been established in the county and people in those areas are encourage to find alternative accommodation outside of the affected areas or make their way to the nearest rest centre.”
 
We continue to work with agencies both locally, regionally and nationally to make sure we are in the best possible position to safeguard Suffolk people.
 
"We anticipate a number of roads will be closed later today due to flooding. I would urge people to monitoring the local media and the environment agency website to ensure they keep up to date with any developments. "