CAUGHT ON VIDEO - FLOODING IN HULL: Hull and surrounding areas were hit by flood water on Thursday evening and emergency services are warning of more possible flooding on Friday morning.
Residents evacuated their homes and were told to move up to higher floors because of flooding in Victoria Dock, east Hull on Thursday.
Scores of properties are understood to have been affected, with Humberside Police urging people leaving their properties to make sure they are secure and to take important documents and medication with them.
Power was cut to parts of the city leaving homes, shops and businesses in darkness. All traffic lights were out on Ferensway which was impassable past the Gilson Hotel. There was also standing water on Anlaby Road where the traffic lights were also out.
A Humberside Fire and Rescue spokesman said on Thursday night: "This is a serious situation and life-threatening. This is not a spectator sport. Residents should remain indoors and remain vigilant.
"We've had a rehearsal with the evening tide. We know what's going to happen. Everywhere which flooded tonight is likely to be affected in the morning.
We will put everything in place that we can, but it is also up to members of the public to be prepared."
Andrew Lee was stood in shock looking at the River Humber as the level rose. "I've never seen anything like it," he said. "I'd just put my tea on when I got a call telling me to move all my valuables."
Stephanie Hunter, who lives Pilots Way, Victoria Dock, had to evacuate her home. She said: "The street was flooded. I moved a few things upstairs. I've lived here for 17 years and never seen anything like it."
There was also flooding on the A63, with people being asked not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Flood water also came up Ferensway and close to Anlaby Road in Hull as tit breached the Humber's banks. Osborne Street was flooded and the Kingston retail park was also said to be under water. Hessle foreshore was also badly hit.
Water levels on Raich Carter Way in Kingswood were also reported to be high.
The Hull tidal barrier was thought to be holding back a surge of two metres of tidal water which could have affected thousands of homes in Hull. The water was only a few feet from breaching the huge barrier by 8pm.
Hessle foreshore resident Katy Wood, 28, was flooded for the third time this evening having seen her home flooded twice in 2007.
"I received frantic texts and phone calls saying to go home," she said. "I live within yards of the river and water had come into the house and was up to the second step.
"I've lost a lot of stuff downstairs and the water has brought up the carpets."
In Hessle council buses were offering warmth and shelter for those affected.
Katy said: "There were people stuck in their homes. My brother couldn't open the front door because of the pressure on the doors.
"Having been flooded in 2007 I am very mindful of the weather but never imagined anything to this scale would happen.
"It was a bit choppy this morning, but the tide was out. It was windy this morning.
"What has happened is devastating as I have lost a lot of possessions. The main thing is that we are safe."
Among those helping was Humber Rescue, based at Hessle.
Glenn Ramsden, press officer for the rescue service, said: "Our bigger boat was sent to the River Trent to help with a rescue there.
"The engine was taken off our smaller boat and we used it to rescue a number of people around the Foreshore who we thought were in danger - maybe physically or ill."
It was a mission for the crew to even get to their boathouse.
"There has been damage caused to our boathouse because of the flooding," said Mr Ramsden.
"The crew had to park at the Humber Bridge car park and wade through to get to the boathouse. Once they were at the boathouse they couldn't even see the slipway because of the water."
In Paull, residents watched anxiously as the water levels rose and could do nothing but watch as water came down the village's main road.
Resident, Paul Walker, said: "It is the highest I have ever seen the river."
And Stephen Dunham added: "I was at work when I got the call. In 2007 I was about an inch of being flooded out. My next door neighbour got hit. The river is a different thing and it is a concern. All we can do is watch."
The Environment Agency has now extended severe flood warnings to areas including Kilnsea, Hessle Haven through to the Humber Bridge and Blacktoft.
The surge took many people by surprise after a day of high winds had swept across East Yorkshire during the day and warnings were issued by the Environment Agency about potential flooding.
Large low lying areas of Hull by the Humber are affected by the flooding. There were reports of people in tears as they were leaving their homes.
Police, coastguard and fire crews converged on the area as the sea surge hit in the early evening.
There were no immediate reports of injuries but police were continuing to check properties and ensure people were clear of immediate danger.
The sea surge was thought to have peaked by around 8pm but there was uncertainty if any further flooding could strike at the next tide from 6.30am on Friday.
