At 4:30 p.m. on 15 September 2000 Hampshire Fire and Rescue contacted Solent Coastguard and requested marine assistance after major flooding was reported in the Southsea area of Portsmouth.

In response Solent Coastguard sent shallow draught inflatables from Portsea Rescue and Portsmouth in-shore lifeboats together with Coastguard Rescue Teams from the Portsmouth area. As the situation developed the Coastguard helicopter `India Juliet' from Lee-on-Solent was tasked to overfly the area and provide assessments for flood control and rescue co-ordination.

By 17:00 hrs no risk to life was thought to exist, but a spring flood tide may impact upon the area with high water expected at 1:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. The Fire Service are presently importing extensive pumping equipment to minimise the risk of further flooding. Coastguard Rescue Teams are working alongside Fire, Ambulance and Police teams using the in-shore lifeboat facilities to minimise any risk to their occupants. Tactical and operational command centres have been set up and all the emergency agencies, including the Local Authority, are working hard to resolve the situation.

Solent Coastguard Watch Manager Peter Brown said, "An extremely heavy thunderstorm just to the south of the Isle of Wight is threatening to impact on the area and we will know within the hour whether this has exacerbated the situation and any evacuations need to be undertaken."