25/1/2010 - Flood affected households entitled to financial and other support : Cumbria County Council

People in Cumbria whose residential properties were flooded in November are being encouraged to register with a new contact point and give details of their circumstances so they can receive longer term support.

The experience of floods in other areas of the country, including Carlisle in 2005, has been that people still need the right support long after the emergency reception centres have closed and the immediate impact of the floods has subsided.

Cumbria’s public services and charities have committed to provide ongoing support for flood-affected families through a single contact point which is being launched today through the County Council contact centre 01228 606060. Callers will be asked a number of questions about their current living arrangements, how their properties and lives have been affected by the floods, and what support they've had or still need. The questionnaire can also be completed online at:

http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/floods2009questionnaire.asp

Those registering will be eligible for support from a range of community groups and public services. Eligible households will also be sent a £20 Tesco voucher and could be entitled to other financial support, grants or goods and supplies which have been donated by companies and individuals.

The flood support centres established in Cockermouth, Workington, Keswick and Ulverston will still be open to offer local support, but one advantage of offering the new central contact line is it will help pool all the information on who has been affected by the floods and what kind of support they need. The information will help give a definitive picture of the extent and impact of the floods across the county. It's therefore important that people who have already been in touch with their local flood support centre register with the contact centre and complete the questionnaire.

It is now two months since the 2009 floods hit much of Cumbria. A huge amount of recovery work has been undertaken over that period and a wide range of support has been offered by voluntary groups, particularly the Red Cross and Churches Together. Many people are now well on with getting back to normal and have clear plans in place with builders and insurers.

But others have not been so fortunate and are still having to deal with insurance, building, housing and a wide range of welfare needs. The cold weather and the Christmas break has brought new challenges for some people.

Cllr Jim Buchanan, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:

"Past experience shows that the support people need will change over the next few months. We don't want people to feel isolated and frustrated by the challenges they're facing. By registering with the contact centre, you will make sure you're on our radar and getting the right support. Some people may be well on their way to getting their lives back in order and have made arrangements with their own insurers, but we still want to hear from you. Even if you're back in your home that was flooded, give us a ring. Likewise, if you're living away from the area and the flooded property was not your main residence, we still want to hear from you.

"This new contact point gives us a single place where we can respond to changing needs and help individuals as quickly as possible, while at the same time still offering on-the-ground help through the flood support centres."