Northumberland County
The impact of Storm Arwen is still being felt across many parts of Northumberland and the multiagency response continues. Once again we have been working alongside partner agencies - Northumbria Police, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Northumberland County Council and Northern Powergrid to help our local communities.
Our efforts on Monday mainly focused on Upper Coquetdale where many residents were still without electricity, heating and water. Two 4x4 vehicles with a three person crew including Paramedics were deployed to Thropton, Sharperton, Holystone, Harbottle, Alwinton, Biddlestone, Netherton and Snitter to check on exceptionally vulnerable residents, who the Rothbury Practice and District Nursing Team believed were in need of a welfare check.
One vehicle was later deployed to Falstone to undertake further welfare checks and medical assessments conducted by our Paramedics. A Team member and another off-duty Paramedic also conducted welfare checks in the Harthope Valley near Wooler, Mindrum and Kilham.
Unfortunately one resident had to be taken to hospital having suffered injuries from an unprepared fall, the previous day. A North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust crew was requested to assist our Team members in this regard.
Later in the day, through our involvement in the Local Resilience Forum’s Tactical Coordination Group a further request for Mountain Rescue’s support was made. North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team deployed their Mercedes Sprinter to the west of Northumberland to check on vulnerable residents out towards Greenhead and surrounding areas.
Throughout the day, the two Teams visited or checked on 56 exceptionally vulnerable residents in rural Northumberland. It was great to see and experience the fantastic community spirit that exists in our rural communities and to see how resilient many people are. We only hope that power and water can be restored to these outlying communities as soon as possible.
The incident involved 14 Team members for 15 hours 30 minutes.
