Community Resilience Volunteers Needed

Could You Help Your Neighbours?

We all have a part to play

Flooding can affect a community very quickly. When it happens, the people who need help most may need it urgently – and the first people able to make a difference are often the people already in the village.

That is why the Bugbrooke Community Resilience Team is building a database of local volunteers who could help during a flood or other emergency.

You do not need to live in an area at risk of flooding to get involved. In fact, we particularly need people from across the village to join the volunteer database.

You might be able to help move furniture, provide transport, make phone calls, check on neighbours, help with communications, provide practical assistance or equipment, or simply be available if extra pairs of hands are needed.

Hopefully, you will never receive a call asking you to help. But if an emergency does happen, having a list of people who have already said they are willing to help means the Community Resilience Team can respond much more quickly.

A lot has already been achieved

The Community Resilience Team has been working hard to improve Bugbrooke’s preparedness for flooding.

Better local flood monitoring

The team has worked with the Environment Agency to have flood-monitoring equipment moved closer to the brook in Bugbrooke. Having monitoring equipment in a more appropriate local position can provide better information about river levels and help support the Environment Agency’s flood forecasting and warning arrangements.

The Environment Agency uses river-level measurements alongside weather forecasts, modelling and other information to produce flood forecasts and warnings.

Building local flood warden knowledge

The lead of the Community Resilience Team has completed Flood Warden training and has also recruited another Flood Warden to the team.

Flood Wardens play an important local role in helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding. West Northamptonshire Council works with local communities and provides Flood Warden training and support.

Building stronger links with emergency organisations

The team is also developing closer working relationships with the Environment Agency and the West Northamptonshire Council Emergency Planning Team.

West Northamptonshire Council’s Emergency Planning Team works with emergency services, partner agencies and local groups to prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Council also recognises that, during a major incident, local communities can play an important role in supporting one another.

These relationships and the work already being done are important. But a resilient community needs people.

Now we need Bugbrooke residents to get involved

The next step is to build a list of people who may be able to help if an incident occurs.

You don’t have to commit to being available at all times. You don’t have to live near the brook.

Perhaps you have:

A 4×4 or trailer that could potentially help move equipment or belongings.
A pump or other useful equipment.
A van or suitable vehicle.
Practical skills that could be useful in an emergency.
Experience in first aid, communications, logistics or emergency planning.
The ability to help move furniture or belongings.
The time to make phone calls or check on neighbours.
Access to a venue that could be opened in an emergency.
Or simply a willingness to lend a hand when your community needs it.

Please complete the volunteer questionnaire and let the Community Resilience Team know how you might be able to help.

Complete the Bugbrooke Community Resilience Volunteer Questionnaire

The information will help the team understand what help and equipment may be available locally if an emergency occurs.

Are you or do you know someone who may need a little extra support in an emergency?

The team is also asking residents who may need additional help during an emergency to consider registering their details.

This could include someone who might struggle to move furniture because of reduced mobility or living alone, or someone who may have difficulty evacuating without assistance.

This is not a medical questionnaire and registering does not guarantee that help will be available. It simply helps the Community Resilience Team understand where assistance might potentially be needed.

If an emergency occurs, knowing where help may be required could allow the team to make contact or carry out a welfare check where appropriate.

Make sure you receive the Environment Agency’s flood warnings

Everyone should consider signing up for the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service, particularly if they live, work or regularly travel through an area that could be affected by river flooding.

You can sign up to receive flood warnings by phone, text or email. You will need an email address and a way of being contacted at any time of day or night.

You can also sign up by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, which is available 24 hours a day.

Please remember that the Environment Agency warning service covers flooding from rivers, the sea and groundwater; it does not provide warnings specifically for surface-water flooding.

Want to do more?

If you would like to become more actively involved in building Bugbrooke’s resilience, look out for the Bugbrooke Community Resilience Group on Facebook and consider coming along to one of the group’s meetings.

There is no need to wait for a flood to happen before we prepare.

The work already being done by the Community Resilience Team, Flood Wardens and the Parish Council is helping Bugbrooke become better prepared. But the strength of a community response ultimately depends on the people within that community.

So, even if your home has never flooded and you are not in a flood-risk area, please consider completing the volunteer questionnaire.

Hopefully, the list will never need to be used. But if the call does come, having a community that is already organised, knows who can help and knows where resources are available could make a real difference to someone who urgently needs assistance.

Please take a few minutes to sign up. Your help could be exactly what your neighbour needs.