Essex RAYNET commended for Floodwatch

Maldon District Council Emergency Planning Officer and Essex Police Maldon Divisional Commander have expressed their sincere thanks to Essex RAYNET for their assistance during the expected flooding on the 8th & 9th November 2007.

Chief Inspector Robertson wrote ‘The speed of deployment of the RAYNET operators to a number of locations by the EPO was very impressive’.  He continued ‘The teamwork within the Emergency Planning Room was first class’

Mr Richard Holmes (Emergency Planning Officer at Maldon District Council) had placed Essex RAYNET on standby after alerts were received from the Environment Agency warning of potential flooding to low lying areas.  Mr Holmes wrote, ’RAYNET assisted the council in a professional way’, ‘they organised themselves without any intervention from myself’, ‘I am sure we will work together again in the near future’.

It was from the Maldon District Emergency Planning Room that Essex RAYNET controllers deployed 18 operators to seven predetermined ‘high risk’ areas to monitor sea levels.  Simplex VHF communications were utilised to maintain an ‘up to the minute’ status on the flood situation.

More information about Essex RAYNET can be found on their website www.essexraynet.co.uk