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Emergency evacuation of caravan park underway after major flooding ruins homes and vehicles[1]
These drone pictures show the aftermath of a flooded residential park that saw dozens of elderly residents forced to flee their homes. Emergency services were called to Primrose Hill Residential Park in Charlton Adam, Somerset, last night (Mon) to reports of severe flooding. There were concerns for the welfare of around 100 residents with many of the caravans on site flooded and others had lost electricity and water supplies.
All the residents were checked over and many had to be extricated to dry land alongside their pets for further care and assistance. Aerial images taken this morning (Tues) after the rescues show water still engulfing around 30 caravans on the site. Among the large number of search teams to be deployed to help in the rescue was Wiltshire Search and Rescue.
It's understood that water rescue specialists were initially alerted to the incident at around 9pm, with the peak of the flooding in the early hours of the morning overnight before levels began to drop. A spokesperson said: "On arrival, we were briefed about an emerging issue at a caravan park, with flood water up to 5' deep in places, and the welfare of around 100 residents was unknown. Some of the caravans were flooded, and others had lost electricity or water supplies. "The five teams deployed and worked alongside the fire service to locate, assess, and where required extricate the mainly elderly residents and pets in boats. "Once back on dry land they were checked over by paramedics at a casualty collection point and then taken to a place of safety. "We train to the same flood rescue standards as all the emergency services in the UK.
The importance of this was massively apparent last night; despite having never previously met the vast majority of those involved before, we were able to work together seamlessly, confidently and efficiently." Involved in the rescue was two flood teams who were rapidly formed consisting of Lowland Rescue volunteers from Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire, who were initially sent to a holding area at Yeovil police station. There they joined up with Mountain Rescue colleagues from Exmoor Search & Rescue who had also been tasked. Witnesses said the flood peaked overnight at waist height for residents and with the only way out blocked there was no option other than to use the boats.
Footage this morning showed much of the site still underwater with an estimated 30 caravans impacted.
A woman, who turned up to try to help her elderly relatives living on the site, said that police stopped her from accessing the area. "When I turned up last night my mum and dad were so distressed, really scared. "But the police had closed the road and it was too dangerous to get closer. "They said they had the situation under control. "We came back at 8am and spoke to some workers, they said everyone was accounted for and helped us get access to check in with them and they were okay thank God." One observer said: "You can see how bad it was just from the pictures this morning.
It must have been a worrying time for everyone involved."