UK flood warning: thousands evacuated from homes - Stay safe UK DUers

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/05/uk-weather-warning-east-coast-braced-for-floods-live-updates
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Summary
My colleague Fredrick McConnell sends this summary of this afternoon's main developments so far:

• Two people have been killed as storms battered Britain today. A lorry driver died in West Lothian when his HGV toppled onto a number of cars as high winds and gales battered Scotland, while a second man was killed by a falling tree in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

• Residents of Sandwich in Kent have been told to get ready to evacuate their homes as severe flooding is predicted in the town. The Environment Agency sent residents an email headed: "Severe Flooding. Danger to life." The Environment Agency – which covers England and Wales – has 41 severe flood warnings in place, most of them along the whole east coast of England, with some on the south coast near the Isle of Wight. In Newcastle, the rivers Tyne and Ouseburn have partially burst their banks.

• The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has urged motorists to avoid driving through flooded areas. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has flood warnings in place for 19 regions of Scotland. Some rail services restarted this afternoon, but passengers were urged to check before making their journeys.