Preparing for Unpredictable Weather
March 2, 2016 10:09 amThe British love to talk about the weather and there is often plenty to talk about! We can experience a good mix of sun, wind and showers on a single day, at any time of year. Whilst we generally escape the worst of nature’s forces, regions of the UK have been badly hit by strong winds, prolonged downpours, heatwaves and chilling temperatures.
A recent example is the extensive flooding that affected many parts of the UK as Storm Eva passed over Britain in December. Many areas of Yorkshire, including York and Hebden Bridge were flooded when rivers burst their banks and rain continued to fall. Homes and businesses across the region were badly damaged as water entered properties.
Over the festive period, Yorkshire Fire and Rescue teams were called out to rescue 58 people who were stuck in homes and vehicles as the level of water rapidly rose. They entered properties in Wetherby, where the water level had reached 3ft. In addition to rescues, the emergency teams provided valuable advice and equipment to prevent further risk to life and to assist with the clean-up operation.
Community Support
In addition to the emergency services, many people from Yorkshire communities gave their time, money and items in support of people who had been affected. Volunteers rallied to assist those who had to abandon their homes during the festive season. School headteachers and hotel managers were amongst the many people who provided emergency accommodation for nearby families.
Other volunteers used boats and 4×4 vehicles to help move people, along with their pets and belongings to a dry, safe place. In Calderdale community members set up a Flood Relief Appeal which raised around £100,000 in the first few days. This money has been used primarily to support community groups with their clean-up operations and to replace damaged equipment.
In Acomb, a clothes and food back was set up to receive local donations and distribute anything from blankets and clothes, to food, pet food and children’s toys to affected families. In a single day 100 emergency care packages were collected, put together and distributed to families staying in emergency centres.
Community Workers
There are of course people in the community that need to get around and get to work even during extreme conditions. Community health teams, doctors, nurses and carers are obvious examples. Whilst they must follow the guidance of the emergency services, dependent people could die if bad weather prevents them from getting to work.
In such conditions, their usual mode of transport might not be ideal. Flooding, snow or icy conditions may make certain routes inaccessible. A short term solution could be to hire a reliable 4×4 vehicle that has been specifically built to perform on more demanding terrains.
If you could benefit from a 4×4 vehicle or tow car hire, Leeds and surrounding areas of West Yorkshire are served by 4×4 Vehicle Hire.
Flood Defenses
Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency are now in the process of exploring ways to reduce the risk of flooding in the region. As with other parts of the UK that have recently been devastated by flooding, improved defenses offer the best chance of protection, but there is no straight forward solution.
One idea that has been put forward by the Environment Agency is lowering water levels in the Hebden Bridge reservoirs. This would allow the reservoirs to act as water storage tanks during periods of excessive rainfall. The idea sounds relatively simple, but the cost of realising the idea has been put at around £15million and Yorkshire Water has expressed caution over the idea, as it could result in water shortages during dry spells.
New schemes will be agreed and worked on over the coming years, but in the meantime, many families and business owners continue to rebuild their lives. They will be hopeful that further damaging storms won’t hit the region before effective measures are in place.