Lazy-Ferret
02-02-2014, 19:00
We did our first call out with SE4x4R today...
We planed to get up at 6:30am, to get to Yalding for 7:45am, but at 6am we received a message, asking us if we could actually get there earlier than planed, to ferry 6 people rescued from the flooded caravan park, to a Hotel, but by the time we arrived, this had already been done.
The road we were originally going to take, was blocked by the driver of a Disco and the Fire Brigade, who warned us that on that route, the flood water was up to the wind screen of the Disco, and the Fire Brigade had this!!!
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1961_zps26fbdd9d.jpg
Luckily, just as we were trying to persuade the TomTom to find us a different way to the village hall, Anther responder arrived, and kindly showed us another way to get to where we were all to meet up.
Having got to the hall, we were greeted very warmly by many people in reflective green jackets who genuinely seemed pleased to see us. These were from all the emergency services, council, environmental... you name it.
After a little while the village hall was opened up for us all, tea and coffee was made and passed out with biscuits as well. Very civilised...
There then followed a meeting between the various agencies, emergency services, a local councillor, and a couple of area representatives, and a plan of action was drawn up. I do have to say, it was quite nice to be able to sit back, and watch all the mini political power struggles going on as certain people tried to make their mark, and prove their worth, while the CEP from the council did a great job of trying to keep them all on track, especially as we did not have to be involved, or worry about the out come... :doh
The two SE4x4R units, were asked initially to take the community wardens out, so they could survey the area, and check on one or two specific "at risk" people, and then draw up a plan of action.
We headed off, and the first thing we came across, was several people standing across the road, at the edge of a long stretch of straight road, that was flooded. The police LandRover, that was at the earlier meeting was also parked there with the fire officer, and the council CEP officer.
We pulled up, and there at the far end, of the flooded road was a car, which we saw just as his head lights died out. After a conversation with the Police and CEP, we were asked if we could safely do so, to pull them out, otherwise, if that was not possible to just rescue the 2 occupants. We drove down to them, and after assessing the situation, I asked the two foreign accented guys, about the cars towing eyes, etc, I had noticed a towbar on the back, but as they were round a bend, and at this point, I had no idea what was behind them round that bend, or their capabilities at being towed backwards, I decided the safest thing would be to tow them, using the front towing eye on my car, and for me to reverse back to where I had entered the flood, which also meant they would be somewhere where recovery could be arranged. They said they had a screw in towing eye in the boot, so both got out of the car, which already had water on the inside, up to the same level as the outside and found the towing eye, while I prepared to attach a strap. Unfortunately, for some reason the towing eye would not screw in the front bumper hole, and bearing in mind that the water was up to their towing eye blanking plate in the front bumper, they asked if I could attach the strap to their chassis... I refused, as apart from the fact, that it was in 18 odd inches of water, I would not want to risk that sort of recovery, for so many reasons, so we got them to remove any valuable belongings, lock up the car, and leave it there. We then returned them to dry land, where we were given a round of applause from the people who were watching and taking pictures.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1963_zpsd6b5a344.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1966_zps0aa1ea15.jpg
This is why you do not remove barriers, and drive past road closed signs..
After that, we got to drive around in one or two big puddles.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1970_zpsbad5a23f.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1971_zpsdaccbcfe.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1972_zps8a3ec471.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1973_zpsb3f69375.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1974_zpsb73377fb.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1976_zps9c44c7df.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1978_zps6b6384d6.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1977_zps86d12eec.jpg
I have to say, it was fantastic working with all those people, and very interesting to see what actually goes on behind the scenes, that most people never know about.
We were then asked to collect a care worker from Maidstone, and take her to see a patent, which turned out to again be in the same flooded area of Yalding. The great thing was, this time, we already knew we could safely traverse the flooded bits. She was a really lovely lady, and was so excited to actually be able to drive through the floods, and see it all, that she actually videoed it on her cell phone, to show her kids, and send to her mum.
We had a great day, but are very tired now.
We planed to get up at 6:30am, to get to Yalding for 7:45am, but at 6am we received a message, asking us if we could actually get there earlier than planed, to ferry 6 people rescued from the flooded caravan park, to a Hotel, but by the time we arrived, this had already been done.
The road we were originally going to take, was blocked by the driver of a Disco and the Fire Brigade, who warned us that on that route, the flood water was up to the wind screen of the Disco, and the Fire Brigade had this!!!
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1961_zps26fbdd9d.jpg
Luckily, just as we were trying to persuade the TomTom to find us a different way to the village hall, Anther responder arrived, and kindly showed us another way to get to where we were all to meet up.
Having got to the hall, we were greeted very warmly by many people in reflective green jackets who genuinely seemed pleased to see us. These were from all the emergency services, council, environmental... you name it.
After a little while the village hall was opened up for us all, tea and coffee was made and passed out with biscuits as well. Very civilised...
There then followed a meeting between the various agencies, emergency services, a local councillor, and a couple of area representatives, and a plan of action was drawn up. I do have to say, it was quite nice to be able to sit back, and watch all the mini political power struggles going on as certain people tried to make their mark, and prove their worth, while the CEP from the council did a great job of trying to keep them all on track, especially as we did not have to be involved, or worry about the out come... :doh
The two SE4x4R units, were asked initially to take the community wardens out, so they could survey the area, and check on one or two specific "at risk" people, and then draw up a plan of action.
We headed off, and the first thing we came across, was several people standing across the road, at the edge of a long stretch of straight road, that was flooded. The police LandRover, that was at the earlier meeting was also parked there with the fire officer, and the council CEP officer.
We pulled up, and there at the far end, of the flooded road was a car, which we saw just as his head lights died out. After a conversation with the Police and CEP, we were asked if we could safely do so, to pull them out, otherwise, if that was not possible to just rescue the 2 occupants. We drove down to them, and after assessing the situation, I asked the two foreign accented guys, about the cars towing eyes, etc, I had noticed a towbar on the back, but as they were round a bend, and at this point, I had no idea what was behind them round that bend, or their capabilities at being towed backwards, I decided the safest thing would be to tow them, using the front towing eye on my car, and for me to reverse back to where I had entered the flood, which also meant they would be somewhere where recovery could be arranged. They said they had a screw in towing eye in the boot, so both got out of the car, which already had water on the inside, up to the same level as the outside and found the towing eye, while I prepared to attach a strap. Unfortunately, for some reason the towing eye would not screw in the front bumper hole, and bearing in mind that the water was up to their towing eye blanking plate in the front bumper, they asked if I could attach the strap to their chassis... I refused, as apart from the fact, that it was in 18 odd inches of water, I would not want to risk that sort of recovery, for so many reasons, so we got them to remove any valuable belongings, lock up the car, and leave it there. We then returned them to dry land, where we were given a round of applause from the people who were watching and taking pictures.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1963_zpsd6b5a344.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1966_zps0aa1ea15.jpg
This is why you do not remove barriers, and drive past road closed signs..
After that, we got to drive around in one or two big puddles.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1970_zpsbad5a23f.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1971_zpsdaccbcfe.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1972_zps8a3ec471.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1973_zpsb3f69375.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1974_zpsb73377fb.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1976_zps9c44c7df.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1978_zps6b6384d6.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/SE4x4R/Yalding%2002_02_14/DSC_1977_zps86d12eec.jpg
I have to say, it was fantastic working with all those people, and very interesting to see what actually goes on behind the scenes, that most people never know about.
We were then asked to collect a care worker from Maidstone, and take her to see a patent, which turned out to again be in the same flooded area of Yalding. The great thing was, this time, we already knew we could safely traverse the flooded bits. She was a really lovely lady, and was so excited to actually be able to drive through the floods, and see it all, that she actually videoed it on her cell phone, to show her kids, and send to her mum.
We had a great day, but are very tired now.