Press Release

Red Cross volunteers respond across the South East following tidal surge

Friday 9 November 2007

Red Cross volunteers are responding and on stand-by today (Friday 9 November) across the South East as some of the highest tides in 50 years threaten the East of England.

Teams of volunteers are assisting the emergency services in East Anglia where thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. Red Cross volunteers are running a rest centre and caring for 200 vulnerable people at Cliff Park High School in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth. The Red Cross has been supporting the Ambulance Service in Great Yarmouth. Volunteers transported elderly people from care homes through the night and have been offering them practical and emotional support.

“It’s been a long night but a pleasant one because we’ve all been looked after so well. It’s been quite an experience really but the people here have been so hard working bringing us drinks and food that it’s actually been a pleasure to be here,” said 87-year-old Joan Fairhead, one of those sheltering in the Gorleston rest centre.

“My husband was fire station officer during the floods back in 1953. I remember he had to collect water and deliver it to people because the wells had been contaminated – I’m really glad things aren’t that bad this time.”     

British Red Cross volunteer Clive Underwood from Norwich was one of those on duty at the centre.
“The atmosphere amongst the volunteers and the people staying here has been fantastic,” he said. “Having the experience of Gloucester has also been very useful, I’ve come in knowing what help is likely to be needed, arrived here and straight away got on with the job.”
 
Volunteers were also on standby to receive vulnerable people in Suffolk at a rest centre in Loddon, near Lowestoft, which opened at 8am this morning.

The Red Cross was called out by the local authority in Norfolk and as part of the Joint Emergency Planning Unit in Suffolk.
Both Essex and North Kent are on high alert this morning and volunteers are on stand-by.
Preparations have even been made as far away as Scotland, where the Red Cross flood rescue team are standing by.