Council to run rule over response to flooding alerts
Perth and Kinross Council has said it could have taken no precautions against the severe flooding that struck the region a year ago last week.
Some families are still feeling the effects of the dramatic storms on August 11 and 12, 2020.
Almost a month’s worth of rain fell in the region in just 24 hours, with 225 properties suffering internal flooding and many more being impacted by external water.
Alyth, Blairgowrie, Perth, Dunning, Forgandenny, Kinross, Pitlochry and Methven were particularly badly affected, along with other areas across the region as well as the country as a whole.
In the aftermath of the event, the council announced a review of its own response, with the results set to go in front of councillors on the environment and infrastructure committee this week.
A report prepared by officers says the local authority followed its own procedures properly “except for the closure of three flood gates”.
It also says the council was not given enough prior warning from the Met Office, with a yellow weather warning only moving to amber once the flooding had started.
And it also warns residents that they need to play a role in preparing for flooding.
According to the report, a yellow warning had been in place during the evening of August 11 but “the council does not routinely undertake any special measures in response to a yellow warning, due to its anticipated low-level impact, generally covering a wide geographic area”.
The move to amber happened at 11pm, at which point the council would normally consider proactive measures such as sandbags.
However, on this occasion “the amber warning was issued as the severe rainfall commenced, leaving no time or opportunity to prepare or plan”.
After August 12, meetings were held in Alyth as well as Perth, Kinross, Dunning and Forgandenny to discuss the flooding response.
A number of measures in the worst affected areas are also contained in the report.
However, communities are warned: “Individuals, businesses and communities must play a central role in making themselves more resilient and reducing the impact of flooding.”
The report concludes: “The council
did not receive any timeous warnings to indicate that a storm of the severity of that which occurred was anticipated.
“This impacted on the council’s ability to instigate precautions immediately prior to the event.
“The council was, however, quick to respond on the evening of the event, although given the timing and the severity and extent of the flooding the council was limited in its ability to reduce its impact.”
Environment and infrastructure committee convener, Councillor Angus
Forbes, said: “The severe flooding that affected many local communities in August 2020 was an experience no-one would wish to repeat.
“We wanted to ensure that a thorough review of this emergency situation was carried out, where we looked at the ways our response was effective and where we can improve on this for the future.
“This has taken some time, bearing in mind both the detailed nature of the review and the other pressures on council teams from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This report reflects how we will be moving forward, and it comes at an important time when the next cycle of flood risk management strategies and local flood risk management plans are being worked on.
“As a council we are also, together with SEPA, encouraging the public and businesses to get involved in a national consultation to share their views and help shape the future direction and delivery of flood risk management.”
The committee meets on Wednesday.