This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-29810381
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
St Asaph flood defence plan tested in two-day exercise | St Asaph flood defence plan tested in two-day exercise |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Flood defence plans for St Asaph are being tested in an exercise, two years after it was swamped when a river burst its banks, killing an elderly resident. | |
Police, fire crews, flood wardens and water and electricity engineers are taking part in the scenario. | Police, fire crews, flood wardens and water and electricity engineers are taking part in the scenario. |
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said the role play will test evacuation drills. | Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said the role play will test evacuation drills. |
Margaret Hughes, 91, died when the small north Wales city was inundated after the River Elwy overflowed in November 2012. | Margaret Hughes, 91, died when the small north Wales city was inundated after the River Elwy overflowed in November 2012. |
The case prompted a major overhaul of emergency evacuation procedures. | The case prompted a major overhaul of emergency evacuation procedures. |
Mrs Hughes' inquest this month heard the vulnerable pensioner drowned in her Denbighshire home after she refused to leave despite flood warnings. | Mrs Hughes' inquest this month heard the vulnerable pensioner drowned in her Denbighshire home after she refused to leave despite flood warnings. |
The hearing was told how Mrs Hughes was registered to received flood alert warnings, but her family did not receive them. | The hearing was told how Mrs Hughes was registered to received flood alert warnings, but her family did not receive them. |
It also heard how rescue teams had to swim to homes submerged by the River Elwy deluge. | It also heard how rescue teams had to swim to homes submerged by the River Elwy deluge. |
NRW said the multi-agency exercise on Wednesday and Thursday would see how the emergency services and local authority would respond to a similar flooding incident. | NRW said the multi-agency exercise on Wednesday and Thursday would see how the emergency services and local authority would respond to a similar flooding incident. |
It said the operation would involve both a table-top exercise and live role play - including issuing flood alerts and warnings, putting up removable flood defences and testing the flood warden network. | It said the operation would involve both a table-top exercise and live role play - including issuing flood alerts and warnings, putting up removable flood defences and testing the flood warden network. |
'Better prepared' | 'Better prepared' |
North Wales director of operations for NRW Tim Jones said: "The flooding in 2012 was devastating for people in St Asaph, destroying homes and businesses, damaging infrastructure and unfortunately ending with tragic consequences for one family. | North Wales director of operations for NRW Tim Jones said: "The flooding in 2012 was devastating for people in St Asaph, destroying homes and businesses, damaging infrastructure and unfortunately ending with tragic consequences for one family. |
"We've been working hard to support the community in the aftermath of the flooding, and to make sure the city is better prepared to cope with flooding in the future. | "We've been working hard to support the community in the aftermath of the flooding, and to make sure the city is better prepared to cope with flooding in the future. |
"We've already made huge headway in improving flood protection, but this exercise will be a vital test of the plans we've made, and how all the agencies involved come together to work quickly and efficiently to protect people in such an emergency." | "We've already made huge headway in improving flood protection, but this exercise will be a vital test of the plans we've made, and how all the agencies involved come together to work quickly and efficiently to protect people in such an emergency." |
Previous version
1
Next version