Pumps in place as rivers rise
SILVER Command has re-formed in response the further threats of flooding in Ryedale.
The multi-agency taskforce intends to meet every day for the foreseeable future after groundwater levels continue to rise following the rapid thaw of the weekend’s snow and heavy rain.
High volume pumps are already on site and operating as a precaution at key sites throughout Malton, Norton, Old Malton and Brawby as river levels continue to rise slowly and more rainfall is expected.
“We have made the decision to reform Silver Command to ensure that we can all work together to deploy pumps and monitor the situation throughout Ryedale,” said Supt Glynn Payne, of North Yorkshire Police.
“Both river and groundwater levels are continuing to rise and with more rainfall expected we are doing all we can to take the necessary precautions to prevent properties and businesses throughout the district suffering from the effects of flooding.”
He added that the water levels are not expected to reach the heights of the end of November, beginning of December and before Christmas but “are not far away.”
The decision to set up Silver Command was made yesterday morning and will now see members of the police, fire service, Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and district and county councils continue to monitor the situation and meet every day.
Flood Alerts were put in place for parts of Old Malton, Sheepfoot Hill and Castlegate, Malton, and Priorpot Beck, Norton, yesterday afternoon.
At a block of residential flats on Sheepfoot Hill, Malton, privately owned pumps worked throughout Monday night and throughout yesterday to remove water that had come up through nearby drains.
Monday also saw flood warnings in place at Stamford Bridge and Buttercrambe Mill – although the Environment Agency later removed the alert.
Firefighters rescued one motorist when they responded to reports of flooding on a road in upper Helmsley while the police were also notified of flood water in Sinnington on Sunday morning.
The weekend’s deluge has been blamed on the rapid thaw of snow which fell last week and on Friday night, blanketing the district, and on the heavy rain that followed.
The fire service was called out to Egton on the North York Moors to rescue a couple from County Durham who had spent two hours trying to dig themselves free from their car after it became stuck in a snow drift.
It emerged the rescued woman had recently undergone heart surgery and was in the area to help her recuperation.
They were taken by the fire service to a nearby hotel.
Elsewhere there were reports of vehicles trapped at Whitwell-on-the-Hill and Ellerbeck with one vehicle crashing into a road sign at the top of Saltersgate as motorists were caught out by the sudden snowfall and difficult road conditions.
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Weather for Malton
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North
