 The big mop up was taking place today after the fierce storm that claimed a fisherman's life and wreaked havoc across Teesside. Hundreds of homes were flooded and communities cut off as early sunshine yesterday gave way to one of the most violent storms to hit Teesside in years. At about 11am the skies blackened, causing lamp-posts to flick on automatically, before the storm arrived in frightening fashion - and with tragic consequences. The dead man was one of two crew of the Northern Star fishing vessel, which broke up off Hartlepool as yesterday morning's fierce weather ripped through the region. Lifeboat crews came across wreckage from the boat as they battled their way between mayday calls. The Hartlepool lifeboat found the two crew in the water. Both were taken ashore, but one was dead on arrival. The other, suffering hypothermia, was taken to University Hospital Hartlepool, where he was today in intensive care. Cleveland Police say they have passed the dead man's details to the coroner and will not be naming him. The families of the men, from the Hartlepool area, have been informed.
 Cleveland Fire Brigade answered 400 calls from 10.45am to 1.45pm. Every appliance was out on a range of emergencies, including floods, fallen trees and people trapped in cars. Assistant Divisional Officer Barry Waller said: "It was chaos - mainly flood calls but also roof collapses. "There were trees split in half, trees blown down in the streets. "A number of people were stuck in their cars when they were swamped. "We had every appliance and every senior officer out." Middlesbrough General Hospital's accident and emergency department was shut after a flood knocked out the electricity supply. Patients were treated in other parts of the hospital, while two patients from intensive care had to be transferred to The James Cook University Hospital with an anaesthetist and back-up team, and another patient was moved on to a ward. The department ran as normal throughout the night, but further problems with electrical cabling began just after 8am today and again a decision was made to divert patients with serious injuries by ambulance to neighbouring hospitals.
 At the University Hospital of North Tees the children's ward was closed with other departments, including X-ray, were also affected. Calls came into the Evening Gazette telling of flash flooding from as far away as Northallerton and Stokesley. A flood challenged drivers attempting to negotiate traffic lights at the junction of Park Vale Road and Park Road North, Middlesbrough. Several large stores had problems, with the Barker and Stonehouse Middlesbrough shop remaining closed today after water entered the roof. Shoppers were evacuated from some stores including Asda at Hartlepool where part of the roof collapsed. All six lifeboats from Redcar, Staithes, Teesmouth and Hartlepool were launched to deal with up to seven maydays between 11am and midday. Most sailors had set out not expecting storms until later in the day. At one time, Humber Coastguard was handling three simultaneous mayday calls - a diver's boat aground off Redcar with three people on board, the fishing boat Flo in danger of running aground at Saltburn and the yacht Natalie, which started taking in water off Hartlepool. Steve Kinroy, Humberside Coastguard watch manager, said dozens of calls also came in from people "disorientated" during the storm. A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer was also scrambled. But with so many vessels out at sea when the storm broke, lifeboat officials were today relieved no more casualties were reported. Neil Marson, of Teesmouth Lifeboat, said: "I've never seen it change so quickly. "Within 30 minutes it went from being a nice calm day to 55 knots of wind, heavy rain and an electrical storm. It gave us everything it had. It's extremely regretful there was a fatality but in those conditions, and bearing in mind the numbers of craft at sea, we are lucky there weren't more casualties." Back on land, the Church Lane and Lichfield Avenue areas of Eston and Broxa Close in Redcar were among many that found themselves under water as the sudden deluge left drains unable to cope. The leader of the Labour group on Redcar and Cleveland Council, Cllr George Dunning, has urged council officials to investigate after he saw the Eston mayhem for himself. Cllr Dunning, a Teesville ward councillor, said: "The area was like Lake Ontario. There needs to be a more concerted effort to prevent these disasters happening again." A Redcar and Cleveland Council spokesman said about 27mm of rain fell in just 20 minutes yesterday. He said: "Despite a lack of any formal warning, the council's neighbourhood services department deployed staff to assist with the operation, check all becks and screens and start the clearance operation." The council tax section at Eston Town Hall was flooded, causing disruption today. Elsewhere, Seaton Carew was cut off as water blocked all entrances to the town. And in Billingham, the outdoor Folklore Festival arena was under a foot of water when lightning struck the sound equipment. Festival director Joe Malone said: "It was a disaster. We couldn't move inside to the Forum because they had water running down the stage the walls and the cables." Afternoon and evening performances were cancelled, but Mr Malone said it was business as usual today. The animals at Clarence's Community Farm in Port Clarence took a soaking after rain came in through the air vents and into their pens. Dave Featherstone, farm co-ordinator said: "The animals are all OK. They were a bit damp and uncomfortable but they're fine now. We lost our big sign outside after it blew off in pieces. It's been there for 12 and a half years and we've never had to replace it so that shows how strong the wind was." Meanwhile, fresher weather was moving in today after a weekend where temperatures topped the 100F barrier for the first time in Britain when 38.1C (100.6F) was recorded at Gravesend, Kent. The record means bookmakers face a £500,000 payout after thousands bet on the 100F mark being broken. Nationally, over 20 people were injured after being struck by lightning. | 
