THE CLEAN-UP is well under way in Warwick district after Storm Henk swept through.
The new year storm brought widespread flooding and caused extensive damage to many parts of the country – but Warwick district escaped the worst of it.
In contrast to other areas of the country, river levels in the district did not breach flood defences.
But the effects of Storm Henk on already saturated ground led to widespread surface water flooding across the district with some roads impassable and reports of 11 flooded properties.
The storm did force the closure of Leamington Art Gallery and Museum and the removal of artefacts and paintings as a precautionary measure from the Pump Rooms site.
And a number of outdoor sports venues, including football pitches at both St Nicholas Park in Warwick and Newbold Comyn in Leamington, were waterlogged and therefore unavailable for hire.Throughout the storm, officers from Warwick District Council maintained a watching brief working with Warwickshire Resilience Forum, a multi-agency partnership including emergency services, local authorities, the Environment Agency and utility providers.
Once the water receded, the forum moved into the recovery phase and partners are now working through a programme of street cleaning, removal of debris and gully jetting.
Warwick District Council’s communities spokesman Coun Jim Sinnott said: “I would like to pay tribute to council staff and partner agencies including the county council, fire and rescue service and police who worked tirelessly around the clock to monitor and respond to a rapidly evolving incident.
“Our preparations and plans for emergencies such as flooding are updated and reviewed on an ongoing basis and on this occasion, I can report that all appropriate actions were enacted.
“It’s important that you report any internal property flooding to the Warwickshire County Councils Flood Risk Team – www.warwickshire.gov.uk/flooding
“Reporting flooding will help the multi-agency partners to ensure that your location can be accurately prioritised for flood support and planning for future flood risk. In addition, it will help to identify those who need to be supported at this time.”
“We will of course be undertaking a full-debrief with all involved.”
Members of Warwickshire Resilience Forum are in the process of contacting households, businesses and landowners known to have been affected by flooding to ensure they are aware of the services and assistance available to them.
