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Post by annette on Feb 24, 2006 20:14:00 GMT 1
On this thread, Annette and I are going to write a chronology for a disaster preparation drill.
Thursday, 23rd February 2006
This diary starts yesterday, when Annette receives an email alert from an American friend, warning that London may be at risk of flooding on Wednesday 1st March 2006 - Ash Wednesday. This guy says he's received a 'prophetic word' - I admit, I'm very skeptical. If there is anything to this, at least we have almost six days warning. I decide to check out the authenticity of this 'word'.
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Post by annette on Feb 24, 2006 20:36:37 GMT 1
Friday 24th February 2006
Initial risk assessment stage. John checks the sources of the so-called "flood warning". I discover that 1st March will indeed be an exceptionally high tide on the River Thames, but certainly not unprecedented. I also discover through official sources that the Thames Barrier, our first line of flood defense is scheduled to be raised for scheduled monthly maintenance on the morning of 1st March. Will it remain raised, or will it be lowered as scheduled, before high tide.. or, might it malfunction during the three critical hours in the afternoon as the waters rise?
No official flood watch has been declared, however my (John's) feeling is that this is an ideal opportunity to work with one or two local churches and put into action an emergency flood preparedness plan. Even if there is no flooding, it will have been a profitable exercise, and reveal valuable strengths and weakness for the future. In any case, we had already done background work on an Emergency Preparedness Workshop (announced in our Summer 2005 newsletter). Our own home, and our local churches are in a high-risk flood area; only the low river defenses down where we walk our dog prevent flooding in our neighbourhood.
Part of our plan includes: the creation of this thread on our Living Waters Forums area; contacting the Environmental Agency; prepare checklists; and write a Spring "Flood" edition of our newsletter, "Chaplains' Call". This is where we are at currently, Friday evening: 4 full days to go![/color]
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Post by John Ruffle on Feb 25, 2006 23:37:27 GMT 1
Saturday 25th February 2006This should really be also going on our blog at Chaplains Call Blog www.chaplainscall.blogspot.com but that will have to wait. Today we purchased and refreshed our emergency food supply, which cost right on £60 at Tescos. We've stored this upstairs in plastic containers, along with an emergency water supply that would last around seven days.
Down at the builders' merchant we got out Calor Gas cylinder replenished, and refilled on batteries and small gas canisters, etc. We already have 2 wind-up radios and 3 battery-free torches (you shake them to generate a charge). Also items like (another!) sparer can opener; and a box of disposable gloves.
Annette has contacted two or three church leaders with the offer of flood preparation instructions and a ten minute overview tomorrow (Sunday). We can't say we've met with an overwhelming response!
Meanwhile, our Spring issue of the Chaplains' Call newsletter is nearly finished: we hope to have it ready for churches in 10 hours. Next on the agenda is to test out our camping stove in the back garden probably tomorrow after Church, and also taking a food inventory so that we can establish minimum stock levels and rotate stock. Some of the food stock, I'm going to store in the attic, but more on that after I actually do it.
Finally, I need to stress that I'm reporting what Annette and I are actually doing. We are not saying that this is the best way to do things; after activating this plan, we will assess our preparedness and response levels to fine tune for next time. Also, we want to be able to be a haven for those in our neighbourhood who need food, shelter or clothing; this is not just for us.
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Post by John Ruffle on Feb 28, 2006 0:15:09 GMT 1
Monday, 27th February 2006
Have been busy with our Sunday schedule, getting our newsletter out on Flood Preparation, and teaching (today), plus another meeting tonight. Will update our flood preparation; enough to say that Annette is assisting a widow prepare, and I've done an email of our Chaplains' Call newsletter as a PDF file today -- maybe you are reading this as a result of getting the newsletter. If not, drop me an email and I'll send you a copy.
John R.
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Post by John Ruffle on Mar 1, 2006 9:15:20 GMT 1
Ash Wednesday, 1st March 2006Okay, we said last week we were going on alert for flooding. Since the Environment Agency was showing all England and Wales regions as "all clear" we didn't want to call it an actual 'flood watch'. At 7:30pm last night, however, the status changed to FLOOD WATCH www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/23_T_1?time=1141155000 for the area Annette and I are living in. So we can say it is official now, and no one can say we are being flacky. Let me sya this right now -- we got 6 days advance warning because alert Christians -- watchmen if you like -- were on the ball, and the communications system was working. This is still a flood watch - not an alert - and we now have 8 hours until the tide peaks.
We have our emergency plan as in place as it is going to be, including a make shift kitchen arrangeemnt upstairs. We plan to only evacuate if we really have to - since we have the ability for the 7 of us to survive for at least a week inside the home. [Our daughter Hannah lives in a basement flat, so she would stay over here]. Below is what the Governement agency is now saying, not us:Current status:
Flood Watch
Status last changed at:
19:30 on 28-Feb-2006
Location:
The River Thames from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weirwww.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/23_T_1?time=1141155000
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Post by John Ruffle on Mar 1, 2006 11:01:52 GMT 1
THAMES REGION:
The Penalties of ignoring the risksA severe flood in London could paralyse the central part of the London Underground, cause damage to fresh water and sewer systems and disrupt power, gas, telephone and vital data services. Thousands of homes, shops, factories, businesses and buildings would be affected. It could take months to get London functioning again. The financial cost of a major flood could be enormous, possibly topping the £30,000m, without counting the cost in human suffering and potential loss of life. I didn't write one word of the above: this is straight from the Environmental Agency Website, see the link. Basically, if the Thames Bsarrier were to fail, this could be the scenario.www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/thames/323150/335688/341764/341770/?version=1&lang=_e
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Post by John Ruffle on Mar 3, 2006 16:40:33 GMT 1
Friday 3rd March 2006
It is now Friday afternoon, and we have safely passed a total of three 'Flood Watch' alerts, and although Annette saw that the River Thames was running very, very high at Hammersmith Bridge in W. London, I'm pleased to say that the banks did not overflow, at least not past the tow path on the bank opposite us - I didn't observe it personally, so I can't say.
The great news is that this period had given Annette and I an incentive to get our family emergency plan operational. The only glitch was a leaking calor gas cannister in the house, and that was entirely my own fault. We got it out of the house and made sure we didn't flick on or off any electrical appliances; anything that could have caused a spark.
Best of all, Annette now has the Environmental Agency willing to send down a staff member for whenever she runs her Planning Workshops for local churches. Also, we have a lot of emergency planning material we can give local churches or the neighborhood for free. I think Anette has material in 10 languages!
This week has been so busy and quite tiring. We are now in Lent, so on top of everything else, I had church considerations as well.
Our task now is to prepare a proper storage in our attic for supplies, and ensure that food and water is on a rotation cycle. Calamities are unpredictable most of the time, so it is simple wisdom to be prepared and not dependent upon any source or agency.. other than God of course.
The greater task is to take this awareness and help church communities in particular prepare and plan ahead. I'm thankful that Annette is taking the lead on this project!
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