Thousands of homes along the River Thames are threatened with flooding as flood waters continue to rise.
Fourteen severe flood warnings are in place in Berkshire and Surrey, while two remain in Somerset.
Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith, has hit back at critics, saying his staff knew "100 times" more about flooding than any politician.
A minister will answer an urgent question put by Labour in the Commons on the flooding crisis later.
Speaking earlier, Lord Smith said: "I have kept my counsel up to now, but when I hear someone criticising the expertise and the professionalism of my staff in the Environment Agency, who know 100 times more about flood risk management than any politician ever does, I'm afraid I'm not going to sit idly by.
"The Environment Agency is bound by the rules that are laid down by government."
His comments came after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said ministers had been given bad advice over river dredging.
Prime Minister David Cameron is visiting Portland, off the Dorset coast, to see the work of the Environment Agency.
He said that now was the time for "everyone to get on with the jobs they have - this is not the time to change personnel", and gave his backing to Lord Smith.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was in Burrowbridge in Somerset on Monday, said dredging should have been done over the last few years but added: "I don't think now is the time to point the finger of blame."
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Mr Pickles are thought to be at odds over the performance of the Environment Agency.
No 10 did not deny Mr Paterson had complained about his colleague, who is standing in for him after he had an eye operation, but said both were doing an "excellent job".
Among other developments:
- Environment Agency has issued 14 severe warnings - meaning "danger to life" - along the River Thames, in areas including Staines, Chertsey and Datchet
- Two severe warning are in place for the south-west of England in Salt Moor and East Lyng, in Somerset
- Large parts of Worcester city centre could be closed for a weekbecause of flooding, the county council has said. Twenty-nine flood warnings remain in place across Herefordshire and Worcestershire
- An earth bank has been built to protect the town of Bridgwater, on the edge of the Somerset Levels, from flooding
- Dyfed Powys police have found a body in their search for a kayaker who went missing on the River Usk on Sunday
- A meeting of the emergency Cobra committee will take place later. Mr Cameron will take part by phone from the South West.
- Essex County Council says it is releasing £1m of emergency funds to tackle road flooding across the county
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