Homes evacuated and hundreds moved to safety as River Arun burst its banks causing severe flooding
Helicopter footage reveals the scale of flooding from the River Arun in West Sussex.
Rescue operations are currently underway in West Sussex because of severe flooding.
The River Arun burst its banks in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday 9 April) which caused flooding near Ferry Road and Rope Walk in Littlehampton.
Severe flooding was also reported at Medmerry holiday park between Bracklesham and Selsey.
Teams from across the emergency services are helping people to evacuate their homes.
Emergency services are helping people to evacuate their homes
South East Coast Ambulance confirmed a “number of resources” were sent to help evacuate and rescue a number of people from the holiday park site.
“We’ve assessed and triaged a number of people at a nearby facility. One person showing signs of hypothermia has been taken to hospital,” they said on X.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is asking people who are directly affected by the flooding to get to high ground if possible, unless they are unable to leave their home.
A spokesperson said: "We currently have three severe flooding incidents happening across the county in Earnley, Littlehampton and Bracklesham as the River Arun to burst its banks.
"At around midnight we were alerted to the first flooding incident in Littlehampton, which primarily affected Ferry Road and Rope Walk.
"In total, 15 people were evacuated.
"Shortly after 1am we then responded to a flooding incident at Medmerry Holiday Park, Earnley.
"In total around 180 people were evacuated. South East Coast Ambulance Service have assessed and triaged a number of people at a nearby facility, and one person showing signs of hypothermia has been taken to hospital at this time.
"Fire crews have now left both incidents, and the situation in these two areas will be closely monitored throughout the day.
"And finally, at around 6.40am crews were made aware of flooding at Bracklesham Caravan and Boat Club. Evacuations of around 20 people are underway.
"The water levels have not yet receded and those who have been evacuated remain displaced. It is also possible that the flooding may increase throughout the day. People directly affected should get to high ground if possible, unless unable to leave their residence.
"Otherwise, please avoid the areas to allow rescue operations to continue safely and effectively.Anyone requiring lifesaving intervention or trapped in their residence should use 999 to contact the Fire and Rescue Service or the Coastguard."
The emergency update comes as heavy rain and strong winds continue to batter parts of southern England, western Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland over the next few days, forecasters have said.
In Hampshire, flooding is affecting the railway at Lymington Pier.
Trains may be cancelled, delayed, or revised because of this problem, said South Western Railway, adding that replacement buses had been requested between Lymington Pier and Brockenhurst.
The disruption is expected to last until 10am.
People were forced to leave the Medmerry Holiday Park in Earnley in West Sussex
A yellow weather warning for England’s southern coast, including Southampton and Brighton, says winds are expected to reach 45-55mph, peaking at 65mph in some areas before easing off.
Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said that while these levels of rainfall would not be a “huge cause for concern” on their own, they will fall onto “already saturated ground” which increases the risk of flooding.
Met Office provisional statistics showed that England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March. Mr Partridge said the past three months in particular had made for a “very wet start to the year”.
In April, Storm Kathleen caused widespread travel disruption as hundreds of flood alerts were issued and thousands of homes lose power.
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The Environment Agency had 213 flood alerts and 100 flood warnings in place in England on Monday evening. National Resources Wales has issued 13 flood warnings and 22 alerts.
Mr Partridge added: “We’ll continue with very unsettled weather as we head into spring, which is usually when we start to see things settle down a little bit more.
“We’re continuing with one area of low pressure after another, which is mainly down to the fact that the jet stream is a bit further south than it would normally be at this time of year.”
He said it would be a “blustery day” in England on Tuesday but there would not be “huge totals of rain”.
He added: “In many ways, the threshold for rainfall warnings is lower than it would be ordinarily just because the groundwater levels are so high at the moment.”
In a statement in response to the flooding in Bracklesham and Earnley, the MP for Chichester Gillian Keegan said: "Following Storm Kathleen and last night's flooding at Medmerry Park and Bracklesham Caravan and Boat Club there is currently a multi-agency response underway to ensure residents, the two sites, as well as the beach at Bracklehsam, are safe and secure.
"The site is under the control of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service who are overseeing operations.
"I have been in touch with Simon Moody, the Environment Agency's Area Director, and other partners to establish what is being done to help and what other resources they may need.
"Residents should note West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's request to avoid the area to allow rescue operations to continue safely and effectively, as well as safety warnings ahead of high tide this afternoon.
"I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response overnight and express my sympathies to those caught up in the flooding.
"My team and I are on hand to help and I would urge anyone in need to get in touch either by email on gillian.keegan.mp@parliament. uk or by phoning 0207 219 1193.
"Anyone at immediate risk should contact 999."