The council is taking steps to support flood-affected areas in North Staffordshire with innovative solutions and community engagement
Stafford: The council is really stepping up to help out communities hit by flooding. They’re looking into a new system to warn folks about surface water floods and even a hotline for reporting issues. It’s all about making things easier for residents and businesses.
They’re teaming up with four universities and other local authorities to improve how they forecast floods and strengthen infrastructure. This week, they shared details about the Fair Project, which aims to keep people informed and prepared, especially since some areas were flooded just as they were discussing it.
Jamie Cooper, the flood risk manager, emphasized the importance of innovation and community involvement. They’re creating a one-stop website where people can check flood risks and get updates. Plus, they’re focusing on the communities that need the most help.
So far, they’ve pinpointed areas like Armitage, Brewood, and Kidsgrove for targeted support. They’ve even got funding for small projects, like the one at Norton Canes Library, where they installed a rain garden to tackle flooding issues.
They’ve launched a website, fairflood.org, to keep everyone updated on flooding info. They’re also working on better communication systems for residents, which is super important during emergencies.
Cooper mentioned that in the past, people struggled to find the right number to call during floods. They’re now looking into having a single hotline to make it easier for everyone. It’s a bit tricky since all the calls come in at once, but they’re exploring ways to automate the process.
Currently, flood warnings are sent out for main rivers, but surface water flooding is harder to predict. They’re hoping to trial a system that gives people a heads-up for smaller floods.
Research is also underway to develop technology that detects when debris blocks water screens, which could help alert crews before a storm hits. It’s all about giving communities the tools they need to stay safe.
However, not everyone is on board with automation. Councillor Conor Wileman expressed concerns about relying too much on robots during emergencies. He believes it’s crucial to have real people available to help when things get tough.
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