Three years on, authorities remind borough to be flood aware

The tidal surge of 2013, which was caused by an extra-large high tide, low air pressure leading to a bulge in the sea surface and a storm driving the tidal waters from the North Sea into The Wash and along the tidal Haven into Boston, saw around 900 residential and commercial properties affected.

During the evening, tidal water overtopped the riverbanks and flood defences.

Unfortunately, when an emergency does happen the emergency services, voluntary sector and local authorities will be busy helping those people who need them the most.

Authorities are asking people to be prepared and to know where to go and who to speak to in any case of emergency.

A spokesman for the council said: “Community emergency planning is not about leaving you to your own devices until the emergency services arrive, or providing a service to the community instead of an emergency response.

“It’s about enhancing what we are all trying to do in the first place by saving and preserving life.

“It’s about giving people the right information at the right time so they can make choices based on this information.

“Community resilience is about communication, talking to each other, being a good neighbour and then sharing this with the emergency services and local authority so the community can recover more quickly from an emergency.”

The spokesman explained that Boston Borough Council has a responsibility to help prepare for, respond to and recover from major emergencies.

Emergency planning in the county is carried out by Lincolnshire County Council’s Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Service, but supported and resourced by all seven districts.

Businesses are also advised to plan for times of crisis, so that they can reopen as quickly as possible after a disruption.

Boston Borough Council has business continuity planning of its own, so that it can continue to operate should any part of the organisation be affected by a disaster.

It also offers advice and guidance to small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary sector groups throughout the borough.

Here are some key links to help you prepare

l To organise your own plan of action in an emergency, the council has advertised a ‘self-help guide’ online. To check it out click here.

l Communities may also have an emergency plan organised by local authorities. To find out about your communities plan click here.

l If no plan exists people can start their own. Community Emergency Plan templates are available to download free here.

l To contact your local community team email [email protected]

l For more information on preparing your business against possible disruption email [email protected]