Exercise Watermark - Preparing for catastrophic flooding

EMERGENCY SERVICES from across the East Riding of Yorkshire are taking part in the nation’s biggest emergency exercise today as part of a week of national activities.

Hull and East Yorkshire local authorities, emergency services, the Environment Agency and central government are simulating a flood caused by a major tidal surge and will test their ability to respond, including planning major road closures and evacuations. Senior officers from all the agencies are taking part in the exercise at County Hall, Beverley today (Wednesday 9 March 2011).

Exercise Watermark will test national and local preparedness for catastrophic flooding from overflowing rivers, collapsing reservoirs and tidal surges across England and Wales.

Agencies including Humberside Fire and Rescue, police, the coast guard, Environment Agency, ambulance service, Army, RAF, hospitals and major businesses are all participating in this or other exercises during the week.

These organisations will work with central government bodies such as the COBRA emergency committee and the Cabinet Office to test responses to a major tidal surge and surface water flooding over four days. The tidal surge scenario is one of the ‘core’ activities which will be tested during the national exercise.