Coastal communities have been warned of "exceptionally high tides" to come, as Britain is hit by the most serious tidal surge for more than 60 years.
In some places along the east coast, sea levels have been higher than they were during the devastating floods of 1953.
Speaking after a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson warned: "This is not over."
People fill sandbags as high tide approaches in Great Yarmouth "There will still be exceptionally high tides ... and I would urge everyone to pay very close attention to advice from the Environment Agency, and also to follow instructions from the emergency services," he said.
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The North Sea surge comes after a powerful Atlantic storm, packing winds of up to 140mph, claimed two lives and caused widespread disruption.
Water breaches the sea wall on Great Yarmouth's promenade The Environment Agency has more than 129 flood warnings and alerts in place across England and Wales, including 23 severe flood warnings which are issued only when flooding poses a "significant threat to life".
Further high tides bring a renewed risk of flooding in areas already inundated with water.
The tide is expected to peak in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex before midday, and in Kent between midday and 3pm.
The seafront in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is breached Thousands of homes in coastal areas, including 9,000 in Norfolk alone, have been evacuated after officials warned that lives could be at risk.
Hundreds of people were forced to spend the night camped out in emergency rest centres.
Sky's Alex Rossi in Hemsby, Norfolk, said: "Lots of bungalows here were evacuated because emergency services were concerned the flood water would inundate the area.
"The area seems to have escaped quite lightly but not all properties have fared so well. One property has been washed away."
Sea defences built since the 1953 floods, which killed hundreds of people, appeared to have held back the tide in many areas.
However, a Defra spokesman said some defences had been breached by the combination of high tides, strong winds and a large tidal surge.
Lifeboats rescue people in Rhyl, north Wales Sky's Gerard Tubb in Boston, Lincolnshire, said residents had described water "cascading" down the street as sea defences gave way.
"People here are worried there could be more problems to come," he added.
One local resident told Sky News said: "It's never been this bad in my lifetime. We had plenty of warning ... but you never think it's going to happen to you."
In Rhyl, north Wales, firefighters spent the night going from street to street, trying to pump water out of people's homes.
Sky's Becky Johnson, at the scene, said: "Many residents thought their homes were protected by the sea defences and simply weren't expecting to be flooded.
"Lots of elderly people had to be rescued by lifeboats and they were really quite distressed by what was happening."
The tidal surge followed an Atlantic storm which brought severe gales of up to 80mph across Scotland and northern parts of England.
Some mountainous regions in Aberdeenshire and Inverness-shire reported speeds of around 140mph.
One man died after he was struck by a falling tree in a park in Retford in Nottinghamshire, while a lorry driver was killed when his HGV toppled onto a number of cars in West Lothian.
The adverse weather also caused chaos on the transport network, with rail services for Scotland and parts of the North of England suspended and number of flights disrupted.
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