'Doncaster's resilience has been tested to breaking point’
The Environment Agency have said levels in the village of Fishlake have peaked with some overtopping, but add that this is expected and the flood defences are working.
The mayor paid tribute to staff from the council and other partners who had worked around the clock over the last few days to shore up homes with sandbags and temporary flood measures like barriers.
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Hide AdSpeaking to a meeting of the full council, Mayor Jones said the borough’s resilience from the 2019 floods, the pandemic and the latest weather warnings had tested it to ‘breaking point’.
A major incident was declared on Monday, with more than 40,000 sandbags distributed in flood-risk areas and a barrier built around a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Mexborough.
DMBC chief executive Damian Allen said 250 to 300 people had been out to help prepare defences and that the earlier warning from the Met Office gave the council more time to prepare than it did in 2019.
Mayor Jones said: “Members are aware that we proactively declared a major incident for potential flooding. We have seen significant rainfall and flood alerts are still in place. It’s an ongoing situation which we are monitoring closely.
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Hide Ad“Services have worked 24/7 to support local people and I would like to thank staff, communities, and partners for their tremendous effort to put the robust plans in place, and to be there for our residents and businesses.
“Over the past year, Doncaster’s resilience has been tested to breaking point. Whilst residents and businesses were recovering from the devastating impacts of the 2019 floods, the Covid-19 pandemic created among precedented health and economic crises.
“We have persevered and delivered to our communities, as part of an incredible team effort to save lives, provide care and stop the virus spreading.
“We have worked with partners to get financial support out to those whose businesses, and livelihoods have been affected. Whilst continuing to deliver housing major projects and essential services for the people of Doncaster.”