4x4rne NDUC callout 12/02/09

[nigel leyland]

Call for teams today from noon and more required for tonight.........



We have had two inches of snow lay in Middlesbrough in the last 4 hours with more expected across the region.........(This is probably affecting the whole of the east of the country)



I'll provide more details as I get them.



Nigel.

[Pete Chambers]

Tadge too far for me to help guys, BUT, if you top up my fuel tank on arrival then i'll help if needed ;)

[BobWessex]

Hi Nigel,



Your turn this week



Bob

[phil_shinyheed]

well we were kept busy most of the night, we had 3 teams out till 12 then 2 teams through the night



the snow was melting slowly and the main roads cleared up until about 4am when they started to freeze up again



we were fully stood down at about 630 and the doctors seemed pleased with our efforts again



my personal opinion is we are desperate for more active members as in the event of a prolonged spell of severe weather we would be stretched very thin to put vehicles out

[Jim Wallace]

Phil you could always try and aproach 4x4 clubs in and around your area to recruit more members this is my next plan of action

[phil_shinyheed]

we do, we had a lot of members at one from off road clubs, which also meant less training was needed as the lads had all off roaded together anyway



but as time has passed peoples situations have changed and we don't have so many of the old faces able to be as active as they once were,



the members we're getting now seem to be more green laners than off roaders, and seem to join through friends rather than through internet based 4x4 clubs



hopefully the busier we become the more interested people will become in being a part of this organisation



we also need to be aware that as new members join it only takes one new member with the wrong attitude or lack of judgement to undo all the good work that has been done by the members so far

[Chris C]

We are part of a very active local forum and that has worked very well for us so far!!!



The forum keeps things fresh and current when there is not a lot happening on a response side with every weekend either Green laining or numerous play sites open. On top of that we do club events and regular Pub meets. we have approx 160 members on the forum and because of that we have attracted 37 active members in the last 10 weeks!!!!



We focus on 3 key areas:



1/ Regular activity (fortnightly)

2/ Everybody has a say so we try our best not to be insular/ clicky

3/ All team members are offerd tasks to make sure they feel part of the team and involved in the development.



I'm not saying this will work for everybody but so far this is working for us and seems to get a positive response which we hope will lead to longevity.

[Pete Chambers]

Phil,

Also worth remembering that other teams will come in and help, no team should be flat out with a neighbouring team doing nothing, if help could be requested / offered... there is nothing more frustrating for a team than to see others pressurised and to not be asked to help... of course when all are flat out it is more challenging :)



Alasdair





I offered :D

[nigel leyland]

And very kind of you it was too Pete..........however I was, as I am sure you know, relating the information not requesting a response............ :D



I was not able to attend this latest round, and I still don't know the full details, althought I strongly suspect that Phil and the others could have done with more help............



As Bob said, it looks like it's our turn now..........What has become apparent is.............it does not take many over nighters, especially mid week, to leave a crew tired.



Unfortunately the ability to rotate the responders to provide a continude service, is at this point in time not possible.



If crews are too tired, or become too tired........then we simply cannot respond at that time or cannot continue to do so....which is the sentiment offered above...........better we supply what we can to the point that we can than not at all.



So well done lads, I'll catch up on the details later :D



Nigel.

[JonathonMarshall]

As it turned out it didn't snow any more throughout the course of the evening but I reckon the snowfall on Thursday was heavier in less of a time scale which meant that although main roads were really just water a lot of the side streets and residential estates were lethal, especailly as it got into the early hours. One call the road down was like an ice rink! In reality it was the ice which was of any concern in the immediate area. If we'd got a call up to the outer reaches of Northumberland then there may well have been substantial snowfall.

With regards to the turnout, yes it was limited - one vehicle lunchtime ish, another at 1500 - making one team. Another team a while later then finally I joined phil to make the third. As it happened there was enough, only due to the fact that there was only 3 doctors in and one of them had to stay in the building at all times. As a result at midnight one team was stood down and the rest were stood down at 0700. The way things worked it allowed Phil and I to get some rest but had there been a call we'd have had to go as the other team wwnt out shortly after we came back until getting stood down - some 3 hours.

My only concern is A) if the weather really was bad and that left one crew stranded with the possibility of needing another to come to assist and B) what if we were called upon by different agencies on the same night - it has happened in the past, when we had more active members and even then it was a struggle!

...and breathe :roll:

[nigel leyland]

Thanks for that Johnathan, I believe that should help others to get a clearer picture of our delema.......



Whilst any offers of assistance are more than welcome and appretiated......it would probably not be possible to take advantage unless it was an extended period of disruption.



NDUC require coverage mainly over night (evening to early morning) and we do not usually know if we will be required the next night untill later in the day...........bearing in mind that the call centre is about 1 to 2 hours north of me, on clear roads, outside congestion hours without closures due to accidents, any of which could double or even tripple travelling time!..........and it becomes clear that travelling any further would likely be futile for other than known extended periods.



Not withstanding, other services who may need our support!



We simply need more resources............ :D



Nigel.

[BobWessex]

I think nature has done that for us -- aprox 15 applications in the last 10 days.

[Pete Hallett]

Im trying to get my brother to join but his wife doesnt seem too keen at the moment :twisted: :twisted: .....i dont know why he has a discovery if hes not allowed. Im working on him and ill grind him down :D

[Tony Ferrari]

The snow has certainly helped, four new enquiries in the last two weeks.

[nigel leyland]

We have ourselves gained quite a few members lately, and had we not, we certainly would not have coped.



Nigel.