| As the snow begins to melt, there could be new problems |
KFRS asked the military to be on standby over the weekend to assist with their heavy all terrain 4X4 vehicles, to supplement KFRS's own capability. That support was extended yesterday while some parts of Kent were still potentially difficult to access because of snow and ice.
With more favourable weather forecast for the rest of the week, conditions have improved and KFRS is now able to cover with our provision of own specialist vehicles including 4x4 vehicles.
KFRS Assistant Director of Community Safety, Steve Griffiths said: "Being able to call on the Army is an established aspect of Kent's resilience planning and we thank them for their swift and efficient response.
"Fortunately the number of callouts over the past few days has been relatively low which is a good sign that the public has heeded safety advice from ourselves and the other emergency services.
"However, as the snow starts to melt, there could be new problems with people experiencing burst pipes or unstable surfaces such as frozen ponds or lakes. We urge residents to call us if incidents of this nature cause a risk to life but as a busy emergency service, we also ask that callers are responsible and consider other steps before calling 999."
Tips include:
"Being able to call on the Army is an established aspect of Kent's resilience planning and we thank them for their swift and efficient response" |
- Make sure you know where your stopcock is and how to turn it off in the event of flooding.
- Check with your insurance company as it can sometimes provide an emergency response.
- Contact Kent County Council or Medway Council for a list of approved contractors and plumbers or call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506
- Following a flood in your home, make sure all electrical circuits are fully dried out and checked by an electrical engineer before switching back on.