Prime Minister Gordon Brown has arrived in Cumbria to see flood damage and meet people affected by the record breaking rainfall in the area.
He joined Environment Hilary Benn and met members of the emergency services at Penrith police station.
Homes are still being searched as residents braced themselves for more rain after England's wettest day on record caused chaos, flooding homes, sweeping away bridges and claiming the life of a policeman.
Pc Bill Barker, 44, a father of four, died after a bridge on which he was standing was swept away by flood waters in Workington.
At a joint meeting including representatives from the police, fire and rescue service, army, county council, and the Highways and Environment Agencies, Gordon Brown thanked them for their work during the crisis.
The Prime Minister said: "Thank you for the coordinated work you've done and the superb response you've given.
"The way the emergency services have come together has given the whole country pride in what you do.
"I'm sorry about the loss of Pc Bill Barker, and I know he was a very brave and heroic man.
"What you have done over the last few days is tackle one of the greatest rainfalls we've seen in our country and you've done it will such superb organisation that I wanted to tell you on behalf of the whole country how proud we are of you."
