Community update Somerset Levels Flooding Monday 10 February 2014

Weather latest Met Office forecasters are warning that further heavy rain and gale force winds will affect the UK over the coming week, bringing the risk of further disruption. Communities are urged to keep up to date with the latest flood forecasts and warnings. The nvironment !gency continues to monitor rainfall impacts on already flooded areas and multi"agency teams are ready to respond as needed. They have advised that severe flood warnings remain in place for the #omerset $evels. %or the latest information, check out www.environment"agency.gov.uk or telephone their &'() public helpline *+,'- .//00//1. Eva uated your property! 2f you have decided to evacuate your property, or have moved back in, please keep your 3istrict Council updated on your movements wherever possible. This helps us to keep our picture up"to"date so that we can keep people safe and protect properties. Contact details for 3istrict Councils are at the bottom of this newsletter. Emergen y a ommodation The rest centre, established by #edgemoor 3istrict Council, at 4estfield Church in 4est #treet, 5ridgwater *T!6 ) U1 is up and running. 3etails are available from #edgemoor 3istrict Council on +/'- '+/&-'+ or from the police number 0+0. Wel"are o" domesti and "arm animals 2f you have any concerns about your animals 7 whether domestic or farm 7 in terms of needing to move them as part of a possible flood evacuation, contact the police number 0+0 for further assistance and information. Sandbags 8ou can get sandbags from your local 3istrict Council. #omerset County Council provided a further &+,+++ sandbags over the weekend ready in case 3istrict Councils need them. #o you need anything! #edgemoor 3istrict Council and the 9ed Cross have been inundated with offers of donations of food and furniture to support those affected by flooding. 2f you re:uire anything *food, fuel etc1, please contact the 9ed Cross on +0/&, ,6,+)+ daily between .am to -pm.

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!n information and advice centre for flood victims has been set up at the community hall in #toke #t ;regory. #taffed by police and 9ed Cross volunteers, it offers maps of the area showing the flood"affected areas, refreshments are available and the centre is also able to help people obtain sandbags. The help centre is being manned /am"0+pm seven days a week. #outh #omerset residents can visit $angport 2nformation Centre, 5ow #treet for advice and information. Opening times< Mon, Tues and Thurs .am to &.++pm. *#ee #edgemoor 3istrict Council website for details of our other local community offices1. %or help with ##3C services, a home visit will be arranged for those residents unable to access an office.

&eep sa"e 4e know some residents have been out sandbagging defences alongside rivers. =lease be aware of the risk of working alongside a fast flowing river, which may have dangerous undercurrents or obstructions lying beneath the water. These risks also apply on flooded access ways such as drives, roads, and pavements, where obstructions could include man"hole covers that may become dislodged. Keep out of floodwater wherever possible, including keeping children and pets away from playing in flood water. nsure any cuts are covered by a plaster. Make sure you and your family wash hands regularly with warm water and soap, especially before eating or handling food and wipe down food preparation surfaces. 3o not eat food that has been in contact with flood water. Mains tap water is unaffected by the floods and is safe to drink as usual. 2f you are feeling unwell or re:uire health services, please contact 000 or your ;= for advice in the normal way. 2n a medical emergency you should still dial ... and ask for the ambulance service. ! public access defibrillator is in Muchelney>s church hall, if re:uired. Changing transport arrangements Mu helney transport Up until now, one 5?&+6 amphibious vehicle has been providing transport from Muchelney to Curry 9ivel, 3rayton and $angport. !nother 5?&+6 has been transporting people and supplies from Muchelney to Thorney. !s of &pm today *Monday1, one 5?&+6 will be covering the entire route above. The route between Moorland and @untworth, previously served by a Unimog vehicle, will be served by the other amphibious vehicle. The @umanitarian boat running between Muchelney and $angport is undergoing repairs, but the route is being covered by a %ire and 9escue service boat. Military ontinue to help rein"or e "lood de"en es There has been continued involvement in the flood operation work in the area by military personnel " mainly 9oyal Marines from '+ Commando, who are based near Taunton. They have been supporting local authority and nvironment !gency staff filling and laying more sandbags and working on flood defences and barriers around !ller. Crime The police are continuing to maintain high profile(high visibility patrols in the area to reassure people. This has involved bringing mounted officers into the area, flying the police helicopter and additional officers on the ground. There has not been a crimewave in the area. #ince Aanuary 0 this year there have been &6 crimes across the &-s: mile area of the #omerset $evels, which is comparable for the same period during previous &

years 7 so no crime spikes. 4e would urge everyone to remain alert and vigilant and if they see anything suspicious to contact the police on the force number 0+0. 'se"ul onta t numbers =olice 7 0+0 for general calls and ... for emergency calls. %lood issues 7 nvironment !gency on +,'- .//00// mergency accommodation 7 #edgemoor 3istrict Council +/'- '+/&-'6 or police 0+0 number. #andbag provision 7 Taunton 3eane 5orough Council +0/&, ,-6,-6B #edgemoor 3istrict Council +/'- '+/ &-'6 or local rate +0&)/ ',-',- *Out of hours< +/++ .0) 6-&+1 and #outh #omerset 3istrict Council 7 +0.,- '6&'6& *&' hours1 #edgemoor 3istrict Council contact centre " +/'- '+/ &-'+ or local rate +0&)/ ',-',-. Outside of these hours their &'() number is +/++ .0) 6-&+. #omerset County Council " 9oads and Transport, !dult #ocial Care, Children>s #ervices and ;eneral n:uiries< +/'- ,'- .0- #outh #omerset 3istrict Council contact centre +0.,- '6&'6&. %arming Community Cetwork $ocal +0.,' )0&0&/ Cational +/'- ,6)...+ Mindline +0/&, &)6/.& $ine open< %riday, #aturday, #unday /pm"0&am #amaritans Taunton branch +0/&, &// ../ *&'hr1B 8eovil branch +0.,- ')6'- #omerset Carers Cetwork +0)'. /,6 6,,. 'pdates on Environment (gen y pumping The ! has been working with the other agencies on some short term, emergency options to maDimise the amount of floodwater that can be pumped away from the #omerset $evels and Moors. This includes options like pumping to the Taunton and 5ridgwater Canal, increasing the volume of floodwater that goes down the #owy *9iver =arrett !lleviation channel1 and pumping at both 5eer 4all and 3unball. =umping at 5eer 4all and 3unball and increase the floodwater going into the #owy is due to start by mid week. !ll risks and benefits across the #omerset Moors and $evels have been considered in making this decision. 4orking closely with our partners we are evaluating these risks and looking to provide additional temporary defences to potentially affected properties. Mon% Slea)e So*y &ing+s Sedgemoor #rain %ive temporary pumps will be installed at 5eer 4all on the !,)&, and eight temporary pumps at 3unball. These have been brought in from @olland. 2ncreasing the floodwater passing down the #owy will help reduce river levels in the 9ivers =arrett and Tone. This will involve additional pumping on both the #owy and the King>s #edgemoor 3rain. The pumps are eDtremely large units and so will re:uire the !,)& road to stay closed while they are operating. 4e apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Flood alleviation *or%s at ,unt*orth The ! is constructing a temporary earth flood bank at @untworth, at right angles to the 9iver =arrett, the railway and the canal. These works will be complete early neDt week. This will help hold back any floodwater that may come down the system from Corthmoor and protect over 0,+++ properties on the outskirts of 5ridgwater. -ump installation at .ridg*ater #o % The %ire and 9escue #ervice have been pumping flood water into the canal at the 5oat and !nchor 2nn, @untworth and behind @untworth 5usiness =ark. The nvironment !gency has today agreed with the Canal and 9iver Trust that we will install a pump at the ,

entrance to 5ridgwater dock, so that we can over pump *at all states of the tide1 into the 9iver =arrett. This pump will help reduce the risk of the canal overtopping. The pump will be installed over the neDt couple of days.

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