Midday today saw a further press conference regarding the flooding situation in Gloucestershire and detailing action being taken to alleviate problems.
GFRS and engineers of Severn Trent have begun the two day process of inspecting and securing Mythe Water Treatment works. The current prognosis of water supplies remains the same, seven to fourteen days.
Local facilities are completly submerged in flood water
Main priorities for Chief constable Dr Tim Braine concentrate on the seven confirmed incidents of crime. Although a comparatively minor risk, damage and theft around abandoned vehicles has been reported.
“The vast majority of the nearly 600,000 residents of the county are behaving very responsibly and with great community spirit.
Although the people of South Gloucester are not affected directly, homes in this area are fed from Mitcheldene and Worcestershire. These same reservoirs are being used to aid the operation in Gloucester.
Alan Payne, General Manager Water Services for Severn Trent therefore urges the people of South Gloucester to, “conserve supplies to support this.”
No reports of infection have been announced, but the people of Gloucestershire are urged to boil water as a precautionary measure.
With regard to babies, Dr Shona Arora, Director of Public Health for Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust advises that boiled bowser water is the preference.
People are advised to keep away from flood water and anything that looks like raw sewage.
“If you have to go near flood water, wear protective clothing such as wellies and waterproof gloves.”
Further rainfall later this week is not expected to have much of an impact, though the receding rate of current flood levels is expected to slow up a little.
Anthony Perry, Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency works for the Met office announced “Levels have peaked but rivers will remain very full for a while ahead.
“In Tewkesbury the level is receding at a rate of about 300 to 400mm per day.
“A lot of people have put in a lot of hours to deal with this situation and our thanks go to them all.”
