Environment Agency teams remain on the scene in Yealmpton to assist the community and emergency services with flooding.
Current situation
A Severe Flood Warning is currently in place for the River Yealm between Cornwood and Yealmpton, including Cornwood, Lee Mill, Yealmbridge and the A379 and B3186 roads. Warnings were first issued to properties in the area about flooding on Friday evening.
People in the local area have been urged to stay in a safe place and listen to the emergency services and be ready to evacuate homes.
Our teams earlier deployed sandbags to increase the height of existing flood defences to keep the river within its channel. However, the defences were overtopped by the steer volume of water, with the river reaching a record high of 2.3 metres.
We have now deployed pumps in Yealmpton and is ready to help emergency services clear flood water from properties. Teams also worked through the night in the area, and elsewhere across the country, to clear river blockages, monitor river levels and issue flood warnings.
The rest of the day
Heavy rain will continue to affect parts of South West England today, especially Devon Dorset, leading to the possibility of significant disruption from river and surface water flooding
People are urged to stay away from dangerous flood water, and not to walk or drive through it.
Nationally there are three Severe Flood Warnings, 57 Flood Warnings and 150 Flood Alerts. The Environment Agency encouraged people, particularly across the South West of England, to remain vigilant by checking its website for the latest information and be ready to move valuable possessions to safety. It also urged holidaymakers and campsites in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset to keep up to date with the weather forecast and flood risk.
Follow us
We update our flood guidance every 15 minutes on our website and you can follow the Environment Agency on Twitter at @EnvAgency.
You can follow the Met Office on Twitter at @metoffice and Facebook
