Views on the Boroughbridge Flood Simulation Workshop:


"What was particularly good about this event was the range of people that it attracted and the learning curve that all participants went through."

"Although an Emergency Community Plan is in place for Boroughbridge, what was evident from those participating was the number of people who are at risk of having their homes flooded and did not know the plan existed.

"It was a very useful day that allowed an open and free debate about the concerns of the residents, within a controlled environment, and professional partners were able to put their messages across. Overall, a fun day that engaged local residents and reinforced my thoughts that communications are vital even at a local level, and was well worth participating in."

Roy Firth, Civil Contingencies and Resilience Officer, Harrogate Borough Council

"I found the workshop very useful and thought-provoking. In my view, everyone - either in business or in the "flood footprint" - should become involved. In particular, it would be good if people who are not likely to be directly affected by a flood incident in the community came forward to offer their services as helpers/volunteers who could be called on in times of need."

Councillor Geoff Craggs, Boroughbridge Council

"I found the day useful in terms of recognising the value of local knowledge in dealing with a major incident. It became clear that, while organisations such as the Environment Agency and local authorities can have very detailed plans of what is likely to happen during a flood, local knowledge has a vital part to play.

"I came away thinking that we need to revise our own plans for how we cover a flooding event to ensure we have lists of key local contacts, so we know quickly who to go to for information during an incident."

Allan Watkiss, News Editor, BBC Radio York

"Attending events such as these is always helpful for organisations such as the British Red Cross as it provides us with an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with the local authorities and emergency services, which we work very closely. We can also see how the event was particularly useful for the local community groups, which will now have a much greater understanding of flood response – information they can circulate among family, friends and colleagues."

Kate Hencher, Senior Service Manager for emergency response in Yorkshire, British Red Cross