Flood-threatened residents who stayed on in their homes expressed relief on Britain’s east coast as a feared storm surge failed to deliver the chaos expected.
Thousands were evacuated from their homes as the Environment Agency (EA) issued 17 severe warnings – which warn of danger to life – with those in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex told they were most at risk.
But in the early hours of Saturday, the remaining residents in a rest centre in Jaywick, Essex, were told they could return to their homes after no signs of flooding.
Residents on the east coast waited for the storm surge to hit during the second high tide, with gale-force winds and higher than usual tides expected to bring waves crashing over coastal defences.
Essex Police said the centre in Clacton saw 230 residents at its peak – but no one visited another site in West Mersea.
Deputy Chief Constable Matthew Horne defended the warnings to residents, saying they were grounded in science and advice from the Environment Agency (EA) and the Met Office.
“We prepare for the worst case scenario and we would be happy to take the same decision again should we be faced with the same advice as we have had over the last 36 hours,” he added.
EA manager Claire Beecroft warned walkers to be wary on coastal paths and promenades with the “unsettled” weather continuing on Saturday.
The Met Office predicted a calmer period of weather but warned of ice in the West of England, Wales, Scotland and in Norfolk.
Ahead of the predicted surge in Jaywick many residents refused to leave their homes, despite an emergency services evacuation plan and pleas from Essex Police for them to move to safety.
Alison McGuire, who also decided to stay home, said: “I did not think it would come over – I thought to myself, ‘What is all the fuss about?’.”
Great Yarmouth residents expressed their relief when their fears were not realised.
Jess Hudson, 19, of nearby Gorleston-on-Sea, said: “I didn’t think it would be as bad as before (when floods hit in 2013) but people were worried and they’ll be relieved the worst seems to have passed.
“I was surprised at the number of people who stayed in their homes when they were asked to leave. If it was me, I wouldn’t want to risk that.”
The Haven Bridge was one of the focal points for spectators as the pedestrian walkway was filled with people pointing their smartphone cameras towards the river – several feet short of breaching the walls.
on the streets of the Norfolk town ahead of the predicted storm surge, but were called off as it appeared the area has swerved the worst of the weather. According to its live incidents web page, Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service attended a few incidents to “assist with flooding”, including rescuing people stuck in flood water, and assisting “with emergency lighting at an evacuation centre” in Walcott.
Police said a man was arrested for public order offences after jumping into the river in Great Yarmouth.
Officers were alerted to a man acting dangerously next to the River Yare near Haven Bridge at around 9.10pm.
When asked to move away from the water for his own safety, the man jumped in. Police said a woman police officer pulled the man from the water immediately and he was detained.
Superintendent Dave Buckley said: “Despite numerous warnings from police and our partner agencies to stay away from the water, a small number of people do not seem to be taking this message seriously.”
The EA moved more than five miles of temporary barriers and 25 pumps to depots and towns along the east coast.
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