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Original poster

Anyone else surprised at how unprepared we are for emergencies?

42 replies

RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 08:47

Talking about the flooding, cars stuck on motorway, with no police or army support.

Nobody knows what's going on, even the Media. There seems no coordination of the emergecny services.

A complete shambles!

googled and channel surfed but can't get mauch up to date info. Why was the central reservation not taken out to let cars turn around?

Highways Agency not answering phones, probably not in, well it is a Saturday!

OP posts:
notasheep · 21/07/2007 08:55

Not surprised at all
The Uk cant seem to cope with whatever the weather.
Hope the next thing will be a heat wave and ice cream running out

Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 08:58

It's madness what about the poor people stuck on the M5 all night with kids?

No food, water, blankets. Isn't this where our poor old army used to help out, instead they're......no wont go down that route.

Just absolsutely disgusted, how everyone is left in the dark. Sky news asking for listners reports as from anyone.

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wannaBe · 21/07/2007 08:59

I agree that when there's snow etc we are often un-prepared, but I think that flooding is something that is hard to prepare for because it comes out of nowhere and really what can be done?

wannaBe · 21/07/2007 09:02

and how are the army supposed to get down the motorway if the cars that are already there can't?

And also imo some of the responsibility is with some of the people who travel - not talking about those who are travelling to/from work but those who have gone on their holidays - often when something like this happens the advice is given not to travel unless necessary and yet thousands of people will not have heeded that advice and will have travelled anyway thinking that it can't be that bad.

Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:03

The Army as we were told yesterday are all in Iraq

Natural disasters - what to do?

You can't beat Mother Nature - we had a mini-tornado right over our house last Sunday - pretty scary

Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:07

WannaBe, don't think you realise how quick these conditions came on at blaming the drivers.

Em yes, there should be emregency communication, processes etc for flooding, fires, plane crashed, bombs etc

The police and army have helicopters, they can get down the hard shoulder...good grief did you get out of the wrong side of bed today

OP posts:
Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:09

Disasters natural or not, we should have workable strategies.

Madness, madness, do you 2 work in the Cival Service per chance?

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Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:09

Agree with wannabee, there were constant warnings not to travel on Friday at least 2 days previously

Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:12

What warnings? Warnings on Wednesday not to travel on Friday

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Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:13

RTL how to rescue hundreds of people stuck on flooded motorways?

Would you think it ok if all emergency services were seconded to that?

Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:14

We had the warnings on our local news (Meridien), on the national news (Radio 4 and BBC). Not to mention the internet. Particularly re M4, M5 and M40 areas.

wannaBe · 21/07/2007 09:16

rtl this rain has been predicted for days, with fears that flooding may be inevitable. Yes it came on quickly but by about 2:00 yesterday afternoon it was well publicised that motorways were being closed/that traffic was gridlocked/not to travel unless absolutely necessary. And yet people will still have travelled.

And even if the army had helicopters what do you expect them to do? there are 10000 motorists stuck on the motorways - food and blankets for all? and just how are they going to do that?

I think people are unrealistic in their expectations.

Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:16

They said there would be one fine sunny day the next day (Thursday) and then the terrible rain would come back at approx midnight on Thursday from Western France and sweep over most of the country on Friday and possibly Saturday

Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:19

Not rescue FGS, hand out blanktes, food, maybe even water.

No but our troops are in Iraq, are police are too tied up filling bloody paperwork or worrying about H&S issues.

Local areas have local emergency action plans, too tired to remeber the actual term, where they have the processes for local emergencies.

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wannaBe · 21/07/2007 09:24

but you can't predict how many people will be stuck and where. you can't expect the government to stockpile enough food/water/blankets in every part of the country "just in case". you would have to have those provisions everywhere because there is flooding in scotland and your emergency supplies are in oxford then they're in the wrong place and it wouldn't be possible to do anything anyway.

And surely if you're travelling you should have those things in your car in case you broke down?

Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:26

I'm tired and emotional, but you are completely bonkers and mad!

I drive 1,500 miles a week, I listen to traffic news contstantly, not sure where you heard to keep off the roads!!

But that's by the by, no matter which way you look at it, and who's fault it is. The organisation is crap!

OP posts:
Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:26

I'm tired and emotional, but you are completely bonkers and mad!

I drive 1,500 miles a week, I listen to traffic news contstantly, not sure where you heard to keep off the roads!!

But that's by the by, no matter which way you look at it, and who's fault it is. The organisation is crap!

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Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:26

RTL, but there has to be some sense of personal responsibility, no?

Given that we have had weird weather this summer everyone seems to be hanging on the forecasts particularly if one has to travel.

And if you do still think a good idea to travel (or it it is somehow necessary) why not take your own food, water an dblankets and torches and first aid kit etc etc

I do this when I drive over to France in any case for example

LadyOfTheFlowers · 21/07/2007 09:26

our whole town/city came to a standstill. Took me 2 hours to get back from town.
dh didt get home from work till 7 and he finished at 4!

Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:26

Whoops so emotional insulted you twice

OP posts:
Original poster
RedTartanLass · 21/07/2007 09:27

LadyOfTheFlowers - didn't you hear the news on Wednesday to keep off the road

OP posts:
Cammelia · 21/07/2007 09:27

"not sure where you heard to keep off the roads!! "

Der, every time I turned the tv or radio or my internet home page on

LadyOfTheFlowers · 21/07/2007 09:28

not wanting to cause trouble,but our local radio was saying the met office and highways agency were advising people to keep of the roads unless your journey was 'imperative' as the congestion was tailing back 10 miles out of town.

wannaBe · 21/07/2007 09:29

No, you are unrealistic. even if there were no warnings on the days prior to the rain, there were warnings from early yesterday.

The government have many failings, but it is not their job to combat nature.

get a grip.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 21/07/2007 09:29

lol - no, i only turned it on once i was stuck in a two jam!
plus the rain here only staRTED YESTERDAY!
soz for caps!