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Floods. The Muchelney Experience Carolyn Roche. November 2012. After the wettest summer on record 12 Houses flooded Roads became impassable cutting off the village for 2 weeks We were told at a village meeting with the EA it was a 1 in 100 year event and it wouldn’t happen again!. However.
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Floods The Muchelney Experience Carolyn Roche
November 2012 • After the wettest summer on record • 12 Houses flooded • Roads became impassable cutting off the village for 2 weeks • We were told at a village meeting with the EA it was a 1 in 100 year event and it wouldn’t happen again!
However • Some villagers did not believe • There is no Parish Council • A Flood Plan was devised from the experience thinking that it could not be worse by interested villagers • A Communication network that had started was made stronger • The Flood Plan was then delivered to every house
Initial Flood Plan included • A self help guide for • Where to move your car to • Medical emergencies • Fire emergencies • Getting prescriptions • Access and transport • Livestock • Food • Accommodation
New Year’s Day 2014 • The flood plan was put into action by Alastair Mullineux via email • The Village Agent spoke with ‘vulnerable’ villagers to see if they wanted to leave • Teams mobilised to move furniture for people who had flooded before • Note: No warnings officially received yet
4-5th January 2014 • Water entered 25 houses • Accommodation found for those that needed it • Transport via tractor arranged to help get people out • Village agent along with village checks on people • Communication network in full swing informing people of what is happening
Communication • The fastest way to communicate is email • Email addresses were collected during 2012 and through 2013 with the final doubters joining during 2014 event • Any houses not on the list are covered by their neighbours printing and taking round messages • 2 people hold the list so that if one is away the other can send information • Outside agencies wanting to send information in have only 2 contacts to deal with
The communication network was invaluable for villagers and services alike • Fire Brigade • Red Cross • Ambulance • Council • Villagers in need
Fine tuning the plan • There is now a flood group • Each person in the group looks after a specific area of interest • School children • Commuters • Rubbish • Vulnerable • Donations • The different ‘islands’
Including • Defibrillator trained villagers • First Aid trained villagers • Useful phone numbers such as Power, Water and Village Agent • A better plan for getting sand bags • Fuel • Donations • Leaving the village before ‘official’ help has arrived
Impact of having a Plan • Meant that there was organisation • Everyone knew what was happening and what would happen even if they had evacuated • Many people’s furniture was saved • People had their cars usefully on the other side of the water • Services were aware of the vulnerable
Your plan • Must be specific to your area • Adapt it from your experiences • Evacuation • What communication is best for you, email, grapevine or telephone tree • Report where you are • Share the plan with Councils and services and tell them what you want • Do not assume it will not happen again
