Thousands evacuated in UK tidal flood zone

I live in East Anglia myself, and can think of quite a few places that I'm worried about here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7086280.stm

Thousands of people in East Anglia have been advised to evacuate their homes amid fears a storm surge from the North Sea will cause severe flooding.

The Environment Agency has warned flood defences in Norfolk and Suffolk may not be able to cope. The storm surge is expected to peak there at 0700 GMT.

Norfolk Police are advising people in 7,500 Great Yarmouth homes to leave and hundreds of Suffolk homes are at risk. Parts of Lincolnshire, Essex, North Yorkshire and Kent are also on alert.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired an emergency Cobra committee meeting on Thursday and the government is urging people to stay calm.

:hug:

:hug:

Hekate

However there areas not far from me that are at risk.

My sister had to evacuate in San Diego. Even if your home is waiting for you when you come back, as hers was, it's still emotionally devastating to have to leave. And for those who lose everything...so hard.

Having only been to London once, and not having gotten to East Anglia, is there a system of dikes and levees to protect against such surges? I remember traveling in the Netherlands and being impressed by all the canals and drainage systems there.