Emergency in Devon last week...200 people stranded.

With reference to the major incident last week, highlighted on national TV (and therefore of national interest), on a major road in Devon when 200 people had to be rescued and transported to rest centres......



Does ANYBODY know if ANY national 4x4 Response units attended?



(it really is an incredibly simple question but I am having great difficulty getting a simple answer of 'yes' or 'no'!!!!).

[mattgreen]

No-one from Peak 4x4 Response has told me they attended so I'm assuming they didn't attend.



Maybe you could assume that if no-one has answered saying 'yes' then the answer is no?



Did anyone from your team attend?

[Phil Coldicott]

I can also say with some confidence that no-one from Northants 4x4 Response attended either.

[BobWessex]

Bob As I explained in my answer to your previous post on this matter, the initial response was by our colleagues from Dartmoor Search and Rescue, as it was felt that the rescue teams may need to WALK to the vehicles. We provided the second response, as well as attending other committments in several counties at the request of various Cat 1 responders. These included several on Dartmoor as DARSAR were committed to Holden Hill



This was in full discussion between myself and the other Gold commanders neither ourselves nor Devon and Cornwall nor any other services have any problems with the level of response provided or the deployments for which we were used.



As you are no doubt aware the weather in Somerset & Devon over the Mendips, Exmoor & Dartmoor was extreme.



I can only reiterate my previous comments Police Gold decide whether or not to request us and I or any other duty controller decides whether we are in a position to deploy.

[Phil Coldicott]

Much as I believe that someone is on a 'wind up' may I suggest a direct answer to the question 'how many units attended' (ie. one, two, three, none) may avoid a continuance of this thread and prevent the creation of more?

[Tony Ferrari]

Have I missed something here?



Having read Bob's response above it is clear to me that 4x4 Response where not called to Holden Hill as Dartmoor Search and Rescue were deemed to be the appropriate response.



However 4x4 Response units were deployed to other incidents in the area where a vehicle response was more appropriate.



Please remember that we are at the direction of the user services, usually through the Strategic Command Group (aka "Gold") and will be deployed where they see fit, not necessarily where the Response Group feels thay can contribute.



Whilst this may seem frustrating to some members, it is the current system and until such time as 4x4 Response is better recognised and understood, by all Category 1 responders, it is not likely to change overnight.



Some things the last week has achieved is a greater understanding of our capabilities by many users, welcome media coverage (even if they don't always get the facts right) and a greater public awareness.



So although our cause has been advanced greatly, I would suggest that we still have a long way to go. And being seen to be bickering on a public forum will not help that cause.

[Pete Hallett]

Seems perfectly clear to me and i think Bob and Tony have said the same thing several times in different ways on more than one thread in order to share the information effectively. ;) ;)