The multi-agency debrief report about the storms and floods in January this year is a strong base on which to improve still further the excellent partnership approach to emergency responses in Cumbria.
That's the view of Cumbria County Council who through the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning Unit and many other service directorates had a major role in responding to the immediate impact of the severe weather.
County Council leader Tim Stoddard says:
"The floods and storms in January were on an unprecedented scale and so was the fantastic response of both the emergency and other services. The report acknowledges the excellent way in which they combined efforts to help people cope in extremely difficult circumstances. It also recognises how they worked against the massive communication challenges due to the lose of electricity and phone networks.
The county council has a key role in ensuring the various recommendations contained in this report are acted on and believe me they will. If there are improvements that can be made then we must make them.
The response in January was excellent but we must be prepared as best we can for any future emergency on this scale and the outcomes from this report will enable us to do that."
Cumbria's Fire and Rescue Service was one of the major emergency responders with crews working in testing conditions. Bernard Dolan, the county council's Director of Public Protection and Chief Fire Officer says:
"Crews were working right over the weekend in very difficult conditions. By sheer professionalism, determination and initiative they responded well to the challenge in what was a complex search and rescue operation. We will look closely, along with the other emergency services, to identify new ways of overcoming the communication problems in such conditions."
Many of the report's recommendations will be driven forward by the Cumbria Resilience Forum in which the county council plays a major part.
Peter Stybelski, Chief Executive of the county council adds:
"As a county council we have already developed an action plan which picks up on many of the recommendations in the report. The vast majority apply across agencies and we will play a full role in the county's resilience forum in driving them forward.
County council staff in social services, education, highways and community development were all involved in helping local people who were forced out of their homes. The reception centres were invaluable and the work of our Emergency Planning Unit was crucial in co-ordinating activity.
Incidents such as this show the value of well co-ordinated local services and we will do all we can to build on the strong networks that already exist in the county."
Ongoing issues regarding the impact of the floods and storms in January will also be considered by the county council's Cabinet when it meets next Tuesday.