Floods update: Council publishes timeline ahead of public meeting

The City of York has – rightly – published today its understanding of what happened and when during the critical days of the recent flooding.

: Click to download

How Boxing Day events unfolded on Twitter click to view

This – and hopefully other – emerging information will help to focus minds at tomorrows public meeting (Barbican 6:00pm)

The “timeline” will raise some immediate questions.

Not least will be that, according to the Council, the Environment Agency started to raise the Foss Barrier at 1830 hours on 26th (Boxing Day).

However the Severe Flood Warning – which effectively told Huntington Road area residents that their properties were about to be flooded – was not issued until 1906 hours. (There had been a flood alert issued for “Huntington” at 1652 hours)

Water had apparently been entering properties in Huntington Road from 1700 hours and boat evacuation started at 1830 hours.

I remains to be seen what emerges from tomorrows meeting.

It is important that the Council captures the views and impressions of all those involved in the flooding.

It is equally important that, those who were affected, record their questions and views in a way which prompts improvement in the way we address flood risk (and which also drives the refinement of emergency planning processes).

The best way to do this may be to have an ongoing “virtual meeting” using internet technologies.

A good start would be a web site where residents can record their questions and where the authorities can provide robust, evidenced, answers.

NB. The Council has still not said how many applications for grants from the Flood Disaster Fund it has received nor how many grants have actually been made and for what amounts.

“Make it York” in the dock

Make it York web site

Rather awkwardly for York’s least favourite QUANGO, “Make it York” will have to face a meeting of its Shareholder’s Committee on 18^th January.

The Shareholders Committee has so far failed to get to grips with the fact that the, wholly Council owned, organisation was launched without any meaningful performance indicators being agreed.

Those that there are, rely heavily on – largely opaque – economic development stats and “Visit York” tourist numbers.

Many of the statistics, due to be reported to the meeting, are missing anyway.

It remains to be seen what the, so far largely sycophantic, Councillors on the committee make of the organisations failure to support business on the 26^th and 27^th of December when severe floods hit parts of the retail area.

Those looking to the Make it York website for information would have been disappointed.

It was to be a week before the organisation began to raise its head above the flood waters.

It is also the first meeting since the organisation broke its promise to provide a replacement attraction for the traditional Christmas carousel that they evicted from Parliament Street during the St. Nicholas Fair.

The alternative ride never materialised leaving many parents and children disappointed.

It was, however, good news for drinkers, of course, as a bar in a tent appeared on Parliament Street.

The organisations “narrative report” makes no mention of the problems caused by the floods much less detailing the organisations response.

“Make it York” also continues to ignore sub-urban shopping areas like Acomb.

With the Councils budget meetings coming up shortly and money tight, the Make it York grant seems to offer a risk free economy. As a minimum the governance and management arrangements for the organisation need a major rethink.

York floods update: Insurance questions, muddled message concern

The number of properties flooded during the recent floods, which did not have insurance cover, has yet to be revealed by the authorities.

: York Disaster fund

The number should be clear from the volume of applications for assistance made to the York Disaster Fund.

Grants are not normally made to those with appropriate insurance cover.

The level of grants made to date has also not been revealed by either the Council or the Two Riding Community Trust, who now run the fund.

: Appeal reaches £244,000

The Flood Appeal meanwhile seems to have stalled just short of its original target of £250,000. By 10^th January £244,000 had been raised. However, the proceeds from several fund raising events, including a Barbican concert as well as the governments matched funding, have yet to be added to the total.

The number of uninsured properties is a matter of considerable interest as a new government underwritten guarantee scheme is due to come into effect in April.

The company coordinating the new cover – “Flood Re” – will provide “affordable” insurance cover for homes in high risk locations. It was first suggested in 2011 but setting up delays – it was to have launched last summer – have piled pressure on its Chairman, former Tory MP Mark Hoban who apparently pockets a 6 figure sum for the part time role.

Flood Re is a collaboration between the insurance industry and the Government and will cap the insurance of home owners in flood-prone areas to £210 a year for Council Tax “Band A” homes to £540 a year for “Band G” homes. The scheme will cover 500,000 properties at risk of flooding, including top-end houses in council tax “Band H”.

The subsidy will be funded by a levy of “around” £10.50 on all household premiums across the country.

In the past, the scheme has been deemed “unworkable” and “needlessly expensive” by policy experts, because while it will include riverside mansions, it will exclude thousands of other, more modest properties, such as leasehold flats and homes that are let.

Shops and other businesses will not be covered by the scheme.

Properties built since 2009 will also remain exempt in order to discourage the development of properties on flood plains.

MPs musings

Meanwhile York’s MP has been holding a series of meetings with affected local flood victims. She is right to do so, although the formal inquiry set up by the Council is likely to look at how engaged and effective the Ward Councillors for the flooded Guildhall, Heworth and Clifton Wards – together with the MP herself – were on the ill-fated evening of the 26^th December.

Residents will expect a professional report, on the outcome of her meetings, to be written and that it will be submitted to the official inquiry.

In the meantime It would be a mistake for any elected representative to indulge in public criticism of any agency or the work of volunteers until all the facts are known.

“Sound bite” interviews are not helpful.

Fire Brigade response

Rapid response type vehicle

The MP rightly praised the work of the Fire Brigade in York in a tweet on 27^th December. Later questions emerged about the failure to utilise the local rescue craft available for the brigade while importing rescue boats from hundreds of miles away.

Now questions are being asked about how appropriate the design is of the new “rapid response vehicles” which the Fire & Rescue Authority wants a substitute for more conventional Fire tenders. Any reduction in the capability of rescue vehicles able to operate on flooded roads would be a concern.

Floods update: Public meeting on 15th January to get feedback on floods

As part of its Emergency Planning, City of York Council is inviting residents and businesses affected by the recent floods to a public meeting at the Barbican with partners involved in the operation, on Friday 15 January from 6-8pm.

It is unclear whether a report, on the circumstances surrounding the Food Barrier failure, will be published by the Environment Agency before the meeting.

With so many unanswered questions remaining about timeline, communication channels and decision taking processes, it is unlikely that, any meeting would satisfy the concerns of those attending.

Similarly milestones should be published for the £13 million upgrade to the Foss barrier which has now been promised.

East York would continue to be vulnerable to further flooding during the likely 2 year construction phase for any upgrade.

The Council says, “The city’s response to the floods, the recovery and clean-up operation and the way forward will be discussed, with a focus on the practical support offered across the city.

People will be able to talk directly to representatives from those organisations at the heart of the operation, including the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, British Telecom, North Yorkshire Police and the council itself.

Further opportunities will be available to residents to give feedback at ward meetings and in flood-affected areas. These will be attended by partner organisations. The dates and locations of the local meetings will be publicised very shortly and where people are unable to attend, other ways of sharing feedback will be put in place”.
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York flooding victims to get cash payment

York residents whose homes have been internally flooded will receive a one-off payment of £500 from City of York Council later this week to help support the clean-up process.Residents who pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit and have been identified as having their homes being flooded* will receive the funding directly in their bank account.

Those paying by other methods will need to collect their payment by bringing photographic ID (e.g. a passport or driving licence) and a proof of address (e.g. utility bill) to the council’s Customer Contact Centre at West Offices on Station Rise. If someone is collecting payment on behalf of a resident, they will need to bring proof of ID and address for themselves, as well as the same ID for the flooded resident.

Residents whose homes have been flooded internally will also be entitled to a Council Tax exemption from 27 December 2015-31 March 2016 inclusive. Residents of all internally flooded properties will automatically receive an updated bill over the next few days.

Anyone who hasn’t received their amended Council Tax bill by 15 January should email council.tax@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 551558.

Refunds will be issued over the next few days to Council Tax payers who are in credit after the flood exemption has been awarded.

There are also a number of other financial support options for residents affected by flooding:

· The York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) provides help for residents in financial difficulty to continue to live in the local community. More information about the Scheme is available at www.york.gov.uk/yfas email yfas@york.gov.uk or phone 0808 1685238 (during normal office hours 8.30am to 5.30pm).

· York residents whose homes have been flooded, who are on a low income, have little capital and who are not adequately insured, may be eligible for help from York’s Disaster Fund, a registered charity which was established after flooding in York in 2000. Applications for this will be managed by the council for all customers, including those who do not qualify for YFAS. For more information about how to apply please email yfas@york.gov.uk or phone 0808 1685238.

£240,000 has so far been donated towards the £250,000 target for the York Flood Appeal. Click to donate

· Up to £5,000 Future Flood Prevention Funding is available for property owners and those who are responsible for maintaining the fabric of a property that has been flooded. This is to improve the property in order to prevent future flood damage. To apply for this please contact the council tax team on council.tax@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 551558.

Businesses which have been affected by the floods are currently being visited by City of York Council representatives.

· Up to £2,500 is available for businesses affected by the floods through the Flood Recovery Fundfor businesses.

Businesses can email business@makeityork.com or phone 01904 554455 to make a claim.

· Businesses which have been flooded will need to apply for an exemption to their Business Rates. Please contact the business rates team at business.rates@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 551140.

· Up to £5,000 in Future Flood Prevention Funds (Commercial)is available for commercial property owners and those who are responsible for maintaining the fabric of a property that has been flooded. This is to improve the property in order to prevent future flood damage. To apply for this please email business@makeityork.com or phone 01904 554455.

Steve Stewart, Chief Executive of City of York Council, said: “We hope that these one-off payments will help York residents and businesses whose homes and properties were flooded to get back on their feet. However, we would still advise people who are covered by insurance to liaise directly with their insurance companies and ensure they employ reputable trades people to undertake work on their property.”

The government has also agreed to match-fund any York flood-related donations made to registered charities, such as the York Flood Appeal. More information about how to donate to the Appeal is available at www.trcf.org.uk/

Communications probe in wake of York floods failures

How events unfolded on “twitter” click to enlarge

A media release issued by the York Council on the afternoon of 26^th December assured residents that “provisions were in place to protect the City” from flooding.

Less than 14 hours later the Foss barrier had failed, 700 homes and businesses had been flooded and telecoms were down.

The Council issued a further media statement late on 27^th saying “The north east of the city is protected from flooding by a flood protection scheme, called the Foss Barrier”.

Which rather demonstrates the need for prompt and informed communications when a crisis develops.

As one of our commentators points out,

“We seem to receive at least one severe warning each year without a trickle of water being seen in the street (Huntington Road). I guess that it’s institutional ‘crying wolf’. Neighbours say that if there had been a real local warning – from, say, a tannoy fitted to a police car, then they would have been able to save more possessions. We are all going to have to move out of homes for six months for reconstruction”.

Cllr Andrew Waller has agreed to take up any communications issues with the appropriate authorities

Coincidentally the Council will debate next week (11th Jan) a study on “E-Democracy”. The review prompted the so called engagement survey where residents were asked to say how they would prefer to communicat with the Council. Ironically the failure to publicise the survey led to a derisory level of engagement with it!

The study also failed to report on the speed of response to issues reported using existing “on line” systems. *

However, more intelligent and timely use of digital systems is undoubtedly at least part of the way forward.

Real time updates on flood levels should be possible even now, while many organisations in the business support and voluntary sector (and others) need to take a hard look at how well they have supported their clients over the last week.

Meanwhile the City remains grateful to the relatively small number of organisations and individuals who, from Monday onwards, organised themselves to meet the emerging gaps in the provision of flood relief services

*It has been confirmed that the much hyped but dysfunctional issue reporting system launched in October is in fact an interim “fix” aimed at replacing a system lost when computer systems were transferred to West Offices 18 months ago.

The new “all bells and whistles” personal account based system – originally promised for introduction in spring 2015 – is now expected to be available later this year and may be soft tested later this month.

Floods update: Financial support available for Business Flood recovery in York

Some welcome, if slightly belated, news from York Means Business (which is part of the otherwise invisible “Make it York” organisation).

Financial support of up to £2,500 is being made available to help small and medium sized businesses in York and North Yorkshire affected by the flooding to get back up and trading.

The recovery fund is supported by Government funding and will help businesses to pay for additional measures over and above the costs of repairs that would normally be covered by insurance.

Affected businesses should email Business@makeityork.com to register. Once the application process has been finalised we will contact you directly with further information on how to apply. More information will be available soon at www.york.gov.uk/floods

Flood update: Flood command team stands down

The multi-agency emergency flood response in York and North Yorkshire has been stood down now that the recovery phase of the operation is well underway.

The decision was taken this afternoon (31 December 2015, New Year’s Eve) by the Strategic Co-ordinating Group chaired by North Yorkshire Police.

Partner agencies in the Tactical Co-ordinating Group – Silver Command – run from North Yorkshire Police’s Force Control Room in York, will return to their organisations to get on with the recovery work from the severe flooding which hit York, Selby, Cawood, Tadcaster and Malton on Boxing Day and in the days that followed.
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Nestle £100,000 boost to York Flood Appeal

Money pouring in to Flood Appeal. Total tops £141,000 by 2:00pm

Businesses or individuals who wish to donate to the appeal should contact Jan Garrill, of Two Ridings Community Foundation or go online at http://www.trcf.org.uk/

Click here to make on “on line” donation

Nestle, one of York’s largest employers, has today (Thursday 31 December) donated £100,000 to the York Flood Appeal – taking the fund to £137,000 in just 48 hours.

The appeal, which was only launched on Tuesday, will help York residents affected by the flooding to get back on their feet. Funds will provide essential household items, such as carpets and washing machines, and the costs of living in temporary accommodation or paying for extra heating.

Dame Fiona Kendrick, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé UK and Ireland said: “As one of York’s biggest employers it has been very concerning to see the effect of these floods on the local community. We want to join those who have rallied round to support the relief effort, including many of our employees, and we have already been able to provide food, drink and other supplies. We now hope this £100k donation will help the York Flood Appeal provide vital support to those in need at such a difficult time.”

The York Disaster Fund – a local charity established in 2000 in response to the floods that year – set up the York Flood Appeal. The Two Ridings Community Foundation, the local community foundation for York, North & East Yorkshire is hosting the appeal on behalf of the charity.

Steve Stewart, Chief Executive of City of York Council, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from both businesses and members of the public who have offered their time, donations and financial assistance to give relief to the people directly affected and the communities around them. We thank Nestle for this generous donation, which will undoubtedly go a long way to helping York residents get back on their feet.”

Anyone needing to apply to the fund should get in touch with City of York Council on 01904 551550.

For advice and support on the York floods visit www.york.gov.uk/floods

Floods update

River levels continue to drop and local flood warnings have been downgraded.
Some drivers are now venturing onto the Knavesmire Road. The official advice is not to drive into flood water because of the danger of underwater obstructions, missing manhole covers etc.
B1222 @ Naburn is still closed (1300hrs Thursday)
Traffic lights at Walmgate Bar and on Foss Islands Road (Morrisons) are still not working

Floods update; River levels, traffic information, volunteering, donations, safety

All the working river gauges continue to show reducing levels.

The Environment Agency is still reporting that the gauge at the Foss basin is still out of action. However a separate web page (below) puts the Foss basin river level at 4.8 metres (which is very low)

Blue Beck click to update

Foss basin click to update

Skelton Poppleton click to update

Tang Hall Beck click

Ouse Bridge (Viking) click to update

For the latest traffic and travel information please visit: www.itravelyork.info/journey-planning/roadworks-and-road-closures

Council staff are also going door-to door to residents’ homes affected by the floods today, to offer help and support, including leaflets and information.

Financial support is available for residents and businesses. Click for more details

Education teams are also contacting headteachers ahead of some schools reopening next week, to provide direct advice/support.

Up-to-date figures indicate that around 767 properties (602 residential and 165 commercial), have been directly affected by flooding in the City centre.

Flooding advice for businesses

The Council says it is working with Make It York, who are meeting with/contacting those businesses directly affected with advice and support (although neither their web site or that of the York BID have been updated since the crisis developed).

If your business has been affected by flooding please see the Health and Safety Executive’s advice on recovering your business.

If your food business has been affected by flooding please see our Flooding advice for food businesses webpage.

The council’s customer contact centre is running as normal. The number to call is 01904 551550 the email address is flood@york.gov.uk.

Offers of help

We would like to thank everyone who has already helped or offered their support. We are currently working to co-ordinate what is needed and who can help out, whether this is by giving time to help or donating supplies.

If you would like to offer any support in the recovery effort, please email us with your details to flood@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551550.

We are actively looking for volunteers to help with the clean up at the Guildhall tomorrow (31 December) 9am-5pm too. Products have been kindly provided by Asda and Nestle, please wear suitable outdoor clothing.

Residents have been extremely generous in giving donations to their local collection points, organised by local communities in York. We understand that many are now at, or approaching, capacity and will find it difficult to accept any more. Please make sure that you call them first, prior to dropping off your donations.

Donate to the York Flood Appeal

The York flood appeal is a new appeal to support people who have been affected by the flood in York in December 2015 and you can donate online.

Alternatively you can donate by sending a cheque. Please make it payable to Two Ridings Community Foundation, write York Flood Appeal on the back and send it to: Two Ridings Community Foundation, Suite 1.34, The Innovation Centre, York Science Park, York YO10 5DG.

The appeal is set up by The York Disaster Fund and is to benefit people living within the City of York Council boundary. The Fund was set up in 2000 to help the victims of floods in York that year, and has launched this appeal to help this year’s victims of flooding in York. To help make donating easier, The York Disaster Fund charity has partnered with Two Ridings Community Foundation. The Foundation is accepting donations to the fund via an online giving page and cheques sent to its offices in York.

Donate furniture and household goods

The Community Furniture Store in York has opened up today (30 Dec) to take donations until 5pm. They are based at Unit 29, The Raylor Centre, James Street, York, YO10 3D, tel: 01904 426444.

Support for residents and businesses

Following its work to limit the extent and effects of the floods, the council is co-ordinating support for residents and businesses. The page includes information on

Waste collections
Council tax
Reputable tradespeople
Benefits advice
York’s Disaster Fund
Disaster Recovery Fund
Flood safety

Please avoid entering flood waters as there may be hidden dangers like sharp objects, raised manhole covers and pollution.

Road closures and travel information

For the latest on road closures and travel information during the floods please visit the iTravel website which will

The Knavesmire and access roads are still flooded

be updated regularly.

Flood warnings

The Environment Agency gives flood warnings for rivers and coasts – see current flood warnings via the Environment Agency’s current flooding information.

Homes at risk from flooding

Find out how to protect your home from floods on the Environment Agency flooding website.

If you live in a flood-risk area you can get warnings sent direct to you by phone, text message or email – contact the Environment Agency’s Floodline on tel: 0345 9881188 for more information.

Public Health

City of York Council has a public health responsibility and works closely with Public Health England, who have a variety of advice for those affected by flooding including:

How to clean your home safely

This leaflet provides important health advice and some basic precautions to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your flooded home. Public Health England leaflet: How to clean up your home safely (PDF).

Insurance

The Association of British Insurers have some great advice for those recovering from floods. If you have been affected please contact your insurer as they are open and waiting to receive your calls. Information is also available on the insurance process

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