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Once-in-100-year flood hits N. England
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Raging floods have engulfed northern England after the heaviest-ever recorded rainfall. The once-in-a hundred-year flood has killed a police officer and driven hundreds of people out of their homes.
The floods swamped northern England's Lake District. Military helicopters winched dozens of people to safety and emergency workers in inflatable boats rescued scores more.
Cumbrian police on Friday identified the body of missing police officer Constable Bill Barker. Floods swept the 45-year-old away when a bridge collapsed on Thursday night in Workington. Saturday would have been his birthday.
Meanwhile, at least 960 homes were flooded after the unprecedented rain. People were trapped by water as deep as 2.5 meters.
![A gaggle of geese are seen in the flood waters, on the main street of Cockermouth, England Friday Nov. 20, 2009 after heavy rains caused local flooding in the picturesque village. The Royal Air Force and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RLNI) rescue services have joined efforts to help around 200 people who are stranded by rising floodwater in the northern England tourist town. [Scott Heppell/AP]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20091121/000cf1a48b7f0c71e1262c.jpg "A gaggle of geese are seen in the flood waters, on the main street of Cockermouth, England Friday Nov. 20, 2009 after heavy rains caused local flooding in the picturesque village. The Royal Air Force and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RLNI) rescue services have joined efforts to help around 200 people who are stranded by rising floodwater in the northern England tourist town. [Scott Heppell/AP]") |
| A gaggle of geese are seen in the flood waters, on the main street of Cockermouth, England Friday Nov. 20, 2009 after heavy rains caused local flooding in the picturesque village. The Royal Air Force and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RLNI) rescue services have joined efforts to help around 200 people who are stranded by rising floodwater in the northern England tourist town. [Scott Heppell/AP] |
A Cumbrian resident said, "About 3 o'clock we had about 4 inches of water. During the night, trees were just snapping like matches. Unbelievable power."
Many houses have been damaged by the force of the water.
A Cumbrian resident said, "I've got to get accommodation and they are saying for at least 6-months, I won't get back into my property for at least 6 months."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had spoken to Cumbrian police officials to offer help and extended his sympathies to the families of the missing.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "We want to do everything we can to help them in what has been one of the most wettest and most difficult days in Cumbria that we have seen."
British soldiers conducted house-to-house searches. Emergency services said more than 200 people were rescued in the hardest-hit town, Cockermouth.
Friday was mostly sunny but more rain and gales are forecast for the weekend.
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