People urged to attend free flood awareness event in King’s Lynn
Flashback to 2013. Flood waters start to rise in King's Lynn - The scene on the Boal Quay in King's Lynn, as a car is caught in the water. Picture: Matthew Usher. - Credit: Matthew Usher
A flood awareness event has been set up to give advice to people living in at-risk parts of King's Lynn in case an event such as the 2013 North Sea surge should occur.
Flashback to 2103. Flood waters start to rise in King's Lynn - Boards and sandbags in front of a door in Nelson Street. Picture: Matthew Usher. - Credit: Matthew Usher
Flood protection measures, expertise, advice and information will be available at a free, specialist event.
Organised by the St Margaret's with St Nicholas ward forum in conjunction with officers of the Environment Agency and the emergency planning department of West Norfolk Council, the aim is to raise awareness of flood risk and to help residents be prepared.
The event is a drop-in session and takes place between 2pm and 6pm on Saturday at Lynn Minster in Saturday Market Place.
The ward forum is keen for everyone who is at flood risk in the town to attend, those living in North and South Lynn especially, and has, therefore, not confined attendance to the St Margaret's with St Nicholas ward.
Dr Julian Litten, ward forum chairman, said: 'The North Sea surge of 2013, when the river almost topped the flood defences, brought home to us all the potential danger of living in the riverside area of King's Lynn – and all the more so because there had been no serious threat for years and we simply were not used to dealing with one.
'Afterwards, we realised how many elderly and infirm people live in the flood-risk streets, people who are not best able to cope with flood-boards, sandbags and the like.
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'This led to discussions with EA officials which has brought about this event.
'We are holding it at the Minster because it lies in the centre of the area and has been flooded on numerous occasions. We are grateful to the vicar, Canon Christopher Ivory, for use of the church.'
Tamsyn Ellway, flood resilience adviser with the EA, will be at the event to encourage volunteers to set up flood groups and develop community flood plans.
She said: 'It's great to see a community organising this event and raising awareness of flood risk in its area. As floods can happen at any time it's vital that communities and residents are prepared.'
Have you been affected by flooding? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk
