Minutes:
(1) Mr Flaherty reported on the second Annual Severe Weather Exercise. He said that its purpose was to ensure that all the responding agencies within the County were prepared for winter. This involved a scenario which could then be discussed and evaluated afterwards.
(2) The 2015 event had involved a scenario of widespread flooding followed by high winds and snow. Participants had included the Environment Agency and Mark Rogers from the Met Office, who had based the scenario on an actual event which had occurred twenty five years earlier. Guest speakers had also been present to set out what their agencies could contribute to assist the emergency services.
(3) The event had been very well attended, involving 80 delegates, including the Kent Resilience Forum, Chief Executives or Director level support from the Districts and KCC as well as some Member attendance. Senior Managers from responding organisations had also been involved.
(4) Mr Flaherty said that the day had been very worthwhile, and had demonstrated the preparedness of the agencies concerned. A whole range of issues had been examined, including resourcing, equipment, and command and control arrangements. The work of the Severe Weather Advisory Group had been acknowledged. It had also been an opportunity to put into practice the work which had been done with the Flood Wardens. Their role formed a key part of the response as they represented eyes and ears on the ground, knew their local areas and were familiar with the local flood plans, and were the first point of contact for the emergency services when they arrived at the scene.
(5) The recent Flood Warden Seminar had been the first of its kind. This seminar had reinforced the crucial importance of their work. Kent was extremely fortunate to have some 200 Flood Wardens who had been suitably trained. This was a higher than any other part of the UK and meant that there was effectively a Flood Warden for every Parish to be able to access. The 50 or so volunteers at Kent Fire were also trained as Flood Wardens and were available to offer support as needed.
(6) Mr Flaherty then said that the helicopter used for the exercise was one of two which would be located at Lydd and replace the RAF search and rescue capability which had formerly been located at Manston. That service had now been contracted out.
(7) Mr Flaherty went on to inform the Committee that, in addition to Kent Search and Rescue, there was another group of volunteers which provided air support (Air Search). People had made their aircraft available, which would enable a bird’s eye view to identify the extent of the flooding when it occurred. Both Kent Fire and Kent Police now had access to a drone each. It was likely that by this time in 2016 there would be a combined figure of 4 drones enabling Fire and Police to do their own reconnaissance if necessary.
(8) A prestigious national award had been presented to the Kent Volunteer Sector Emergency Group by the Emergency Planning Society in recognition of the tremendous role played by volunteers in Kent and the service that they were providing.
(9) RESOLVED that the report be noted.