Aim

To increase the flood rescue capability of our team to help provide community assistance and rescue during times of flooding

York has a long history of flooding dating as with sizable flooding recorded as far back as 1263, more recently we have seen serious floods in 1991, 1995 and 2000. In 2015 York suffered serious flooding when the volume of water from the River Foss exceeded the capacity of the Foss barrier and pumps, the result caused the raising of the Foss Barrier leading to extensive flooding of central York leading to the evacuation of over 250 residents from their homes. Many were trapped in their houses and had to be evacuated by specialist flood rescue teams.

Most recently York has seen a prolonged period of wet weather over January and February whereby the River Ouse has been in a flood state for a number of weeks.

The team at York Rescue Boat were heavily involved in the 2015 flooding in both Cumbria and York supported by our Surf Life Saving Great Britain colleagues. With your help, we are hoping to expand our flood rescue team with an additional 10 Flood First Responders.  

Flood First Responders are trained to safely work in and around floodwater, they can provide support and assistance to residents whose property have been flooded in a number of ways including helping safely evacuate them using inflatable boats and sledges. Delivering essential welfare items such as medication, food and water to people staying in place. Assisting other agencies to get safe access to properties such as nurses and health visitors or electricity board staff check on local infrastructure.

Each flood first responder will cost around £1500 to equip and train with a dry suit and their personal safety equipment including a personal flotation device, throwlines and helmets.

With your support, we can help to increase the number of people trained and equipped to assist with flooding in the local community

This project successfully funded on 1st September 2020