Nottinghamshire County Council-run flood response volunteer scheme named as winner of national award

A volunteer scheme which has residents trained and ready to respond in the event of flooding has won a national award.

When a community experiences flooding, it’s often those who live there who can act quickly to support others — and that’s exactly what a network of volunteers across Nottinghamshire are trained to do.

Nottinghamshire County Council operates the Community Flood Signage Scheme to help residents support their community should flooding or severe weather hit, and now the scheme has won a Flood and Coast Excellence Award in the Community Action category.

Neil Clarke MBE, cabinet member for transport and environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “This is excellent news that the Community Flood Signage Scheme has won this prestigious award.

“I have seen first-hand the devastation that flooding can cause across Nottinghamshire and having met many of our volunteer signage wardens I am proud of the work that they do to protect their communities from flooding.

“The recognition that winning this award will bring to all volunteers is really important as we want to keep shining a light on the vital work that they do. On behalf of the county council, I would personally like to thank them for all of the work they do on a voluntary basis.

“When a flood event hits, we as the county council cannot be in every community at once and so it’s really important that our network of engaged and trained volunteers are able to act after receiving our extensive training as it is their local knowledge that is invaluable in a crisis.

“Acknowledging and valuing local knowledge is extremely important, as the residents are the experts having witnessed the flooding themselves and by empowering them to respond we are succeeding in our aim of creating more flood resilient communities across Nottinghamshire.

“We don’t have to cast our minds back too far to remember the impacts of Storm Babet and Storm Henk and it is often events such as these which spur residents on to act and so it is pleasing to hear that the scheme is expanding and there are a further nine signage schemes in development across Nottinghamshire.

“I very much look forward to meeting more of our volunteers in the future and hearing more about the work that they do to keep their communities safe from flooding.”

Set up in 2011, there are now more than 485 registered volunteer flood signage wardens across Nottinghamshire who safely close roads susceptible to flooding.

This helps to prevent vehicles driving through flood water and causing damage to nearby properties, and helps the community become more flood resilient.

There are currently 31 community schemes across the county, with 10 of these set up in the last 18 months following significant flood events during Storms Babet and Henk.

A further nine schemes are also in development.

The county council’s Flood Risk Management team supports volunteers to agree trigger points — such as water reaching kerb level or a set marker — which, once met, will result in trained volunteers from the community setting out a road closure.

Volunteers are then given water safety and risk control training in partnership with Via East Midlands and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service as well as access to personal protective equipment, online refresher training and events organised by the county council to bring volunteers together to share knowledge and experiences.

In the last six months alone, 130 volunteers have attended these training events meaning that their capacity to act should flooding hit has significantly increased.

Following Storm Babet and Storm Henk, additional schemes have been set up after the county council worked with parish councils and community groups to encourage volunteers to sign up. The schemes are now thriving with volunteers fully trained and ready to respond should a flood event occur.

Peter Cast, a volunteer from Bleasby, said: “Council staff from all relevant departments, advised, supported and monitored Community Flood Signage Schemes, and as a consequence of this initial success, other flood affected parishes have been progressively absorbed into this continually growing scheme — along with all the necessary training, ongoing advice, equipment and very specifically targeted strategies to address each particular community’s very specific circumstances during floods.

“The scheme has gone from strength to strength, most affected parishes, (now having formed their own county council guided and approved Flood Action Groups), have become part of a secure partnership that has brought considerable reassurance and trust in both motorists and residents alike.”

Tom Archer, area manager for prevention and protection at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: "Sadly flooding affects lots of us across Nottinghamshire in different ways, and especially recently, we have seen families who have suffered due to severe flooding.

“Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has an important part to play in protecting local people in the event of a major incident, and a number of agencies across the county work collaboratively to ensure we are doing the best we can to keep everyone safe.

“Several fire service personnel are involved with the flood volunteer scheme, run by Nottinghamshire County Council, and they help deliver training to those who wish to volunteer in a time of need.

“It’s amazing for the scheme to be recognised nationally, as without the volunteers, and those training them, the scheme could not continue, and the volunteers would not be there for the general public — it really is a prime example of everyone working together to create safer communities.”

Dan Maher, managing director of Via East Midlands, said: “We’re proud to be an active part of the Community Flood Signage Scheme and are pleased that it has been recognised with this award.

“The storm events we experienced last winter had a significant impact on communities across Nottinghamshire.

“I'd like to thank the volunteers in the scheme for the positive contribution they have made, working together with officers to make a real difference in the communities in which they operate.”

If you would like to become a flood signage warden, contact Nottinghamshire County Council’s flood risk management team by emailing: flood.team@nottscc.gov.uk.