Emergency response to widespread flooding to be tested in Northamptonshire this weekend

Northamptonshire County Council’s (NCC) emergency planning team and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service will lead the exercise with support from Northamptonshire Police Specials.

The joint-agency exercise will test the county’s emergency response to widespread flooding.

Councillor André Gonzalez de Savage, cabinet member for public protection, strategic infrastructure and economic growth at NCC, said: “These exercises are a vital way for all agencies involved in emergency planning to learn and improve our plans and capabilities to deal with an emergency.

“This exercise will get the various organisations working together to manage the response to a hypothetical emergency, offering the chance for them to improve their contingency plans ahead of a real emergency.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you in advance to the volunteers who are giving up their time for free to help us stage the event.”

The exercise will take place on Sunday (October 11) at Daventry Country Park and Stanwick Lakes and involve voluntary organisations including Northants 4x4 Response, Northants Search and Rescue, Northampton Emergency Aid Team, British Red Cross, the RSPCA and the Maritime Volunteer Service.

The day will also involve East Midlands Ambulance Service and local Army Cadets.

A team of police specials will be on hand to offer reassurance to the public not involved with the exercise and to provide assistance as required by the Incident Commander.

Exact details about the exercise are being kept under wraps in order to accurately test the agencies’ emergency response, but the locations are being revealed to let members of the public in the area know not to be concerned.

Mike Maywood, Chief Officer for the Special Constabulary, said: “This will be a great experience for the Specials involved in the exercise as this is exactly the kind of support they would be lending in the case of a real emergency of this kind. The Specials provide an important resource for the community and we are delighted they will be taking part this weekend.”