Colleagues from across the council worked tirelessly to provide support including:
- closing and monitoring roads affected by flooding to help keep people safe
- co-ordinating operational and tactical groups to support a joined-up approach to managing a major incident
- setting up rest centres and supporting people forced to evacuate
- clearing roads of debris as flood water recedes
- checking the structural safety of bridges and other infrastructure
- supporting vulnerable residents to get the care they need in challenging circumstances
- keeping the public informed and sharing safety advice
Although the floodwater has receded in many places, there are still hazardous areas around the county. Some road closures remain in place on roads where our teams need to carry out inspections, clear debris and check that they are safe. Please continue to follow safety advice and do not ignore road closed signs.
All our buildings will be open as normal on Monday morning but please take care when travelling. If you live in an area that’s still affected by flooding, such as South Derbyshire, please talk to your manager about working arrangements.
My sympathy goes out to anyone whose home has been affected by the flooding. If you’re having to clear up after flooding, please make sure you follow health advice. It is normal to feel upset, anxious, tired and have difficulty sleeping when our lives are significantly disrupted through events like flooding. Please reach out to friends and family for support as it can take a long time for life to return to normal. There are many places you can go to for support including our employee wellbeing support services so please seek help if you need it.
A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in activities that were vital to emergency operations. I know that many of you worked through the night for which I am very grateful.
Thanks also go to everyone who will be involved in providing ongoing support to residents and businesses as they recover from flooding.
Best wishes
Emma