As we move into 2016, the Minister for the Armed Forces, Penny Mordaunt, thanks the men and women of the Armed Forces who have assisted with the emergency response to flooding over December.
At this time of year we all want to be with our friends and family. This is as true for our Armed Forces as it is for those across the UK who have been hit by flooding throughout December.
My deepest sympathies go out to those who have been flooded. There is never a good time for this to happen but over Christmas and New Year must be particularly hard for many.
This has been a record breaking month for rainfall in some parts of the UK, with exceptional amounts of rain falling onto already saturated ground. The government has deployed resources and personnel to where they have been most needed in what has been a very dynamic situation. As the media have been widely reporting, the Armed Forces have been heavily involved in the emergency response.
As well as assisting with defences and the clean-up in Cumbria before Christmas, personnel from the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment were deployed on Christmas Day to help prepare flood defences in Appleby.
Since then hundreds of personnel have been involved across the north of England, helping the Environment Agency and local authorities to limit the damaged caused by widespread flooding. Personnel have been assisting from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, the Light Dragoons and the Royal Lancers.
These teams have been building flood defences many different towns, from Appleby and Braithewaite in Cumbria, to Whalley and Ribchester in Lancashire. They have also undertaken ‘warning and informing’ roles, and vital evacuations of vulnerable residents in York. Elsewhere, reconnaissance teams from 170 Engineer group have conducted technical assessments of damaged bridges. Many of our Reservists have also performed critical coordination roles alongside the EA in regional headquarters.
Members of the RAF have also been supporting, with the heavy lift capability of the Chinook Helicopter moving assets around the region and shoring up the burst banks of the River Douglas.
The Royal Navy has also helped, with a Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet deployed to winch people from a bus that had become stuck in flood waters in South Ayrshire.
It has been a truly tri-service response.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Armed Forces that have been involved, from the troops on the ground, to the air crews and those in command roles throughout the region. You have given your time to help others when I’m sure you would have wanted to be with your own friends and family. Well done to all, you have once again shown the country the kind of selfless commitment that defines the British Armed Forces.
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