Flood victims receive expert EMAS support

Specialist East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) operational teams have spent over 24 hours on the streets of the worst flood-hit areas of Lincolnshire and Humberside helping support the local community cope with extreme weather conditions. 

Paramedics were joined by colleagues from the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) and three EMAS Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART). They assisted in the evacuation of 223 people from homes in Boston and Cleethorpes affected by high water levels. There were no fatalities due to the floods.

EMAS Director of Operations Richard Henderson said: “We were well prepared last night. It demonstrates that alongside ensuring a high standard of patient care we have sound, workable resilience and business continuity arrangements.

“In addition to allocating resources around the main trouble spots, EMAS also deployed the specialist SORT team (including a number of off-duty members of staff who gave up their time) and the HART team with water rescue equipment and a communications command vehicle.

“A big thank you to all staff involved in helping patients and the public stay safe during the storms and flooding.”

At the time of writing, EMAS still has a strong presence at the scenes of the worst flooding to help local communities recover, and is continuing to treat the situation as serious. An operational command team continues to assess developments.

EMAS would like to thank the residents of Lincolnshire and Humberside for being #999wise during the floods and only calling the service in emergency situations. That played its part in allowing us to utilise resources where they were most needed.

#999wise is the high profile message that is being spread right across the East Midlands – via posters on the side of ambulances, radio adverts and online and social media messages – as we enter winter and the pressures the service comes under because of it.