Situation update from East Riding of Yorkshire Council - 18.00 hrs Wednesday 23 December, 2020
Work is nearing completion on a repair to an embankment on the Aire & Calder Navigation, which breached on Sunday,20 December and resulted in several nearby fields flooding.
Contractors working on behalf of the Canal & River Trust – which manages the affected part of the Aire & Calder Navigation – have plugged the breach with 350 tonnes of aggregate and 170 tonnes of clay, which has stemmed the flow of water from the canal. The trust will continue to monitor the fix over the coming days.
Engineers from the Canal & River Trust have also undertaken an on-site inspection of the nearby embankments and are satisfied that these are stable.
With the breach repaired and the Environment Agency standing down its flood warnings for the area, the Humber Local Resilience Forum has stood down the emergency response.
However, operational teams will remain on site to continue a coordinated pumping effort to reduce flood waters in the fields near to the canal.
Water levels at Goole Docks and Goole Marina have also stabilised.
Darren Downs, Chief Superintendent at Humberside Police, said:
“Thanks to the collective efforts of the Canal & River Trust, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue, the Environment Agency, Snaith & Cowick Town Council and the Internal Drainage Board, no properties have flooded during this incident and the breach has now been repaired. The risk of flooding to local communities has therefore subsided.
“While our emergency response to this incident has now been stood down, partners will continue to have a presence on site over the coming days in order to monitor the situation and continue pumping operations.
“We would like to thank residents and the local community for their support over the past few days.
“We fully appreciate the impact incidents like these have on people and we are pleased that, by working together, we have managed to bring the situation to a positive conclusion.”
Tuesday 22 December - 09.30 hrs
A multi-agency response from the Humber Local Resilience Forum to a flooding incident on the Aire & Calder Navigation is continuing into a third day, after part of an embankment breached on Sunday, 20 December - causing the flooding of several nearby fields.
Staff from the Canal & River Trust – which manages the affected part of the Aire & Calder – are being supported on site by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue, the Environment Agency, Snaith & Cowick Town Council and the Internal Drainage Board.
Thanks to a coordinated pumping effort, flood water levels have stabilised and, in some places, are reducing.
The risk of flooding to properties in East Cowick, West Cowick and Pollington is low. However, the Environment Agency still has two flood warnings for the area in place.
Remedial work to plug the breach in the embankment has started this morning, after the helicopter was delayed yesterday due to inclement weather and low cloud/fog.
The helicopter arrived this morning and is now flying bags of aggregate over to the breach, with the aim of having a substantial number of bags in place by the end of the day so as to make a substantial difference. However, bagging will continue into tomorrow.
Partners will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day and overnight.
Partners are also continuing to work with the operators of Goole Docks and Goole Marina to help stabilise water levels (stopping them dropping too low) and a coordinated pumping operation is continuing at these locations.
The council, and all partners, will continue to have a presence on site for as long as is needed to resolve the matter and to support our residents and businesses.
Monday 21 December - 17.30 hrs
Work is continuing on a multi-agency response from the Humber Local Resilience Forum to a flooding incident on the Aire & Calder, after part of an embankment breached yesterday (Sunday, 20 December) - causing the flooding of several nearby fields.
Staff from the Canal & River Trust – which manages the affected part of the Aire & Calder Navigation – are being supported on site by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue, the Environment Agency, Snaith & Cowick Town Council and the Internal Drainage Board.
Water levels continue to stabilise and the risk of flooding to properties in East Cowick and West Cowick has reduced. Partners are also continuing to monitor water levels near to Pollington – but the risk to properties is, again, low.
However, the Environment Agency issued two flood warnings for the area which remain in place.
Low cloud/fog has meant that the helicopter, which will be used to deliver the aggregate bags to the site for the remedial work to plug the breach and stabilise the bank, has been unable to arrive today due to issues with visibility.
It is intended to begin these works tomorrow when the weather improves and the helicopter can fly.
Partners are continuing to work with the operators of Goole Docks and Goole Marina to help stabilise water levels (stopping them dropping too low) and additional pumping equipment has been deployed to this location.
Darren Downs, Chief Superintendent at Humberside Police, said:
“Partners are continuing to work together to respond to this incident and I’d like to thank the local community for their support and cooperation.
“Pumping operations will continue throughout the night to ensure the incident remains stable and until we undertake the necessary repairs to the embankment tomorrow (Tuesday, 22 December).
“Given the flooding incident that affected this area earlier in the year, we fully appreciate the concerns of local people and I would like to reassure residents and businesses that all partners involved will continue to have staff, equipment and resources on site for as long as is needed to respond to this incident.
“While flood warnings remain in place, the risk of flooding to properties has reduced. We will continue to monitor the situation overnight and will provide further updates to ensure residents are fully informed as work progresses.”
Whilst no properties have been flooded and water levels have stabilised, if needed, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has put contingency plans in place for the provision of a rest centre and transport. Contingency plans are also being put in place to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents in the area and they will be contacted by the council directly.
Brigette Giles, Head of Digital, Change and Technology at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Emergency Control Centre Manager, said:
“The council and its partners will remain on the scene for as long as is needed in order to support our residents and businesses.”
Situation update from East Riding of Yorkshire Council 12.30 hrs Monday, 21 December, 2020
A multi-agency response from the Humber Local Resilience Forum is continuing near to East Cowick and West Cowick, after a bank on the Aire & Calder Canal breached yesterday (Sunday, 20 December) - causing the flooding of several nearby fields.
Sandbagging of adjacent properties and pumping operations went on throughout the night and water levels have stabilised in the area. No properties have been flooded.
The Environment Agency has issued two flood warnings for the area, which remain in place.
Staff from the Canal & River Trust – who manage the affected part of the Aire & Calder Canal – are being supported on site by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue, the Environment Agency, Snaith & Cowick Town Council and the Internal Drainage Board.
Today’s operations will focus on plugging the breach using bags of aggregate and clay. The bags will be delivered by helicopter, which has been determined to be the most efficient way to complete the repair work and stabilise the bank.
Additional pumps from the Environment Agency are enroute to support operations.
A strategy is being considered in order to make best use of pumping equipment, once the breach has been filled.
Partners are also working with the operators of Goole Docks and Goole Marina to help stabilise water levels in these important strategic assets.
Darren Downs, Chief Superintendent at Humberside Police, said:
“Partners from across the Humber Local Resilience Forum are working together to respond to this incident and we will continue to provide regular updates to ensure residents are fully informed.
“Given the flooding incident that affected this area earlier in the year, we fully appreciate the concerns of local people and I would like to reassure residents and businesses that all partners will continue to have staff, equipment and resources on site for as long as is needed to respond to this emergency.”
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has put contingency plans in place for the provision of a rest centre and transport has also been put on standby to assist, if properties need evacuating.
Contingency plans are also being put in place to ensure the safety of vulnerable residents in the area and they will be contacted by the council directly.
Brigette Giles, Head of Digital, Change and Technology at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Emergency Control Centre Manager, said:
“The council and its partners have been on the scene since yesterday and have worked throughout the night in response to this incident.
“Staff and equipment is on-hand and plans have been drawn up to plug the breach using bags of aggregate and these will be delivered by helicopter for efficiency.
“The council and its partners are looking to deploy further pumping assets to the area in order to reduce flood waters and defend properties, if needed.
“This is a challenging situation, but we will do all we can for as long as is needed in order to support our residents and businesses.”
Statement from East Riding of Yorkshire Council - 23.20 hrs Sunday 20 December, 2020
East Riding of Yorkshire Council, working alongside Humber Local Resilience Forum partners, is responding to a flooding incident near East Cowick and West Cowick, after a bank on the Aire & Calder breached earlier today.
Water is flowing into several nearby fields and there is standing water in Back Lane, in East Cowick, and a temporary road closure is now in effect.
No properties have flooded.
Staff from the council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue, the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust – who manage the affected part of the Aire & Calder - are on site responding to the incident and have deployed pumping equipment to help reduce water levels.
The council has also delivered sandbags to the area and has sandbagged adjacent properties.
A night vision drone from Humberside Fire & Rescue has been despatched to the scene in order to monitor the situation and help direct operations overnight.
The council has put contingency plans in place for the provision of a rest centre and transport has also been put on standby to assist, if properties need evacuating.
Gillian Barley, Head of Revenues and Procurement at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Emergency Control Centre Manager, said:
“The council and its partners are on the scene and are responding to the incident and will have staff and equipment on-hand throughout the night.
“Plans have been drawn up to plug the breach using bags of aggregate and these will be delivered by helicopter in the morning.
“The council and its partners will also be looking to deploy further pumping assets to the area in order to reduce flood waters and defend properties.
“This is a challenging situation, but we will do all we can tonight, tomorrow and as long as is needed in order to support our residents and businesses.”
More updates will appear here