Now this sounds a cruel but in reality shows the raw power of ‘crowdsourced’ mapping.

OpenStreetMap Updates have come online within days of the bridge collapse.
Yes there was a fatality more here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Cumbria_and_southwest_Scotland_floods
Now all we require is Flood Mapping Areas from Environment Agency (EA) overlay [available in April 2010?] on the map to show potential flooding on Ordnance Survey (OS) Maps.
Then the analysis of Met Office data [available in raw format in April 2010?]
The the OFS [Open Flood Map] can provide real-time flood alerts and help communities likely to be affected.
Required from Government sources
1 in 1000 year flood polygons (EA)
1 in 100 year flood polygons (EA)
1 in 50 year flood polygons (EA)
1 in 10 year flood polygons (EA)
1:10,000 vector/raster mapping (OS)
Raw live-feeds MetOffice (geo-xml/json please)
[available April from 2010?]
Now that’s a potentially risk-saving mashup of data.
Background on Bridges and Travel Distruption

Fully closed and Collasped bridges.
latest travel news
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/travel/roads.shtml
Flood Recovery Appeal
http://www.cumbriafoundation.org/
Note – Ireland has also had huge problems with flooding over the past week.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/emergency-flood-fund-to-little-says-opposition-435667.html
And more rain forecast doesn’t look good.