| Because this is Britain, there is reasonable consternation every time the country seems to grind to a halt at the slightest shift in weather. Britain’s infrastructure has not been built to cope with harsh winters and regular flooding. With increasingly wet winters and unpredictable cold snaps, vulnerable regions face mounting risks from infrastructure failures that could leave communities isolated and essential services disrupted – as last week demonstrated. Flooding As of this morning, 200 flood warnings and 300 flood alerts have been issued in England, according to the government. The Environment Agency has said a combination of melting snow and rain could lead to “significant river flooding”, adding that it is monitoring swollen rivers around the UK. Flooding has brought rail services to a grinding halt, with widespread cancellation and delays due to flooded tracks across the country. In Scotland, dangerous water levels and a landslip triggered major disruption last week. Major rescue operations have unfolded: hundreds were evacuated in Manchester after torrential rain trapped residents, while Rutland and Leicestershire declared major incidents yesterday, with fire services fielding more than 200 emergency calls and rescuing a least 59 people. In Newport, Wales, flooding was so severe that police had to seize drifting cars, and footage was released of a completely submerged car in Birmingham. The drop in temperatures Sudden temperature falls can lead to widespread power outages. The network operators Northern Powergrid said more than 27,000 homes and businesses across Yorkshire and north-east England lost power on Sunday night. In Ireland, almost 60,000 homes and businesses were without power and 40,000 without water. Some households will struggle to warm their homes to the recommended 18C, which is likely exacerbated by power outages. Last week, the UK’s Health Security Agency issued an amber alert for social care in England, saying vulnerable people were at risk. London councils have also activated an emergency accommodation protocol for people sleeping rough in freezing conditions, which will involve extra beds being made available. Snow and sleet Icy conditions rendered many motorways and roads impassable, with others brought to a standstill by traffic pile-ups. Despite speed restrictions and closures, treacherous conditions have still led to numerous vehicle collisions. Authorities are urging people to travel only when absolutely necessary, though this risks isolating rural and remote areas. The RAC reported that yesterday was likely the busiest day of the winter so far for vehicle breakdowns due to the severe weather. The harsh conditions have also left people stranded in perilous situations: in one instance, five men were rescued from a mountain in the Lake District, where they were found “waist-deep” in snow. Several airports, including Manchester and Liverpool, temporarily closed their runways because of heavy snow and ice. The UK’s typically mild climate means most airports have not invested in infrastructure to handle unusual or extreme weather events, leaving thousands of passengers in the lurch or waiting hours on end for their flight to take off. With freezing temperatures expected to persist into next week, further disruption seems inevitable. | 