News and events around the team this Friday (14/11/08)

[Bob Hatcher]

Well this week seems to have been quite busy.



We have now negotiated a national Public Liability insurance with Zurich which should come into effect from the first of January 2009 should member teams wish to partake. This should produce a saving of at least 30% for each team and in many cases much more. We are also investigating reduced vehicle insurance.



'On Monday 3rd Nov Rover Rescue were involved in a Table top exercise with W Norfolk EPU.

The scenario was a tidal surge predicted to cause flooding in the low lying area of Snettisham, Heacham and Hunstanton on August Bank holiday Sunday.

The High School used as a Rest Centre was holding a Craft Fair in the school hall used as the rest centre and the play area was in use for a caravan rally, all Council car parks were full of holidaymakers and a number of the EPU staff as well as volunteers were on holiday.

EPU staff, Blue light services and Volunteer groups, including Rover Rescue, Raynet WRVS, Red Cross and W Norfolk Emergency Wardens, were present along with representatives of the local holiday businesses and W Norfolk council Resort & Leisure services.

An entertaining morning was spent discussing this scenario, especially when the Holiday home owners reported that they had up to 1500 touring caravans in the flood risk area and that somewhere should be found for them to be moved to!



One member of Rover Rescue was also involved in an exercise last week with Hunstanton Red Cross and as a result of this involvement we have now been offered the use of their hall FOC.'



Powys Group are rolling out their Training and Development programme (shortly to cover all Wales) and hope to have internal training and assessors in Off Road Driving, Winching and Trailer Operations within 8 weeks.



Powys Group are extending their coverage to the Whole of Wales and are in the process of appointing regional co-ordinators for the varoius areas to correspond with the Resilience Planning Forums. Anyone interested in joining the new/extended group can make contact initially via http://www.powys4x4response.org



South East held their second meeting on Wednesday 12th November, attended by 14 members from Kent and Surrey. These will now be held quarterly with monthly Sunday afternoon pub meets 'roaming' around the four counties (Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex).



On Saturday (15th November) three members will attend an exercise run by Kent Search and Rescue to explore ways our two organisations can work together.



Over the coming weekend 5 members of Wessex 4x4 Response will be working closely with Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team near Okehampton