Cornwall floods leave motorists trapped in vehicles - 3 Sep 2017

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Cornwall floods leave motorists trapped in vehicles


Polperro High Street was left under nearly 4ft of water

People were trapped in vehicles and roads were closed as surface water flooding hit parts of Cornwall.

Overnight rainfall caused water to reach heights of 4ft (121cm) in some places on Sunday.

A flood alert was issued by the Environment Agency, who said the main areas of concern were the rivers Camel, Allen and Bodmin Town Leat.

The fire service advised road users to avoid attempting to drive through flood water.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service crews from Launceston, St Austell, Wadebridge and Looe were among those called out to several rescues across the county.

At least six people had to be brought to safety by water rescue teams after becoming trapped in their vehicles, they said.


Water rescue teams from Bude and Bodmin were deployed

A spokesman from the Environment Agency said all flood defences in the area were holding and no rivers had broken their banks.

He said the flooding was thought to be largely "surface water" caused by blocked drains and heavy rainfall.


The fire service said it could take as little as 60cm of water to trap a car

[Pb_devon]

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

[LiskeardRich]

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

I've commented somewhere else that the pixelating does nothing to disguise a very obvious brand logo.

[Timmer]

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

I've commented somewhere else that the pixelating does nothing to disguise a very obvious brand logo.

And can be quite clearly seen on the bonnet!

[old original]

If I remember rightly, if you're involved in a road traffic accident and require an ambulance, you or your insurance will get a bill for said ambulance.

I would hope that these "people" (restraining myself) would get a bill from the fire service to cover to cost of pulling them out rather than coming from my council tax. Anyone who thinks they can drive through three and a half feet of flood water deserve to have their bank account drained.

Ranty rant....

[Surrey 455]

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

Does this need adding to the abbreviations list? Google has no idea what D&SRFS is and neither do I.

[ChrisB]

Devon & ?? Fire Service?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, it's the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service - see https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/index.cfm?siteCategoryId=1 for details.

I shall add it to the Coffee Shop forum's page of acronyms and abbreviations, as requested. 

[ChrisB]

Presumably Devon & Somerset Rescue & Fire Service? (D&SRFS)?

Or is it actually D&SFRS?

[grahame]

Presumably Devon & Somerset Rescue & Fire Service? (D&SRFS)?

Or is it actually D&SFRS?

Wasn't the issue in Cornwall? 

[ChrisB]

Maybe they sent a water rescue team to help out?

[stuving]

Whatever it said when first posted, that picture in the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) story is now credited: "Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service".

The other pictures are credited to local units of the CFRS.

[LiskeardRich]

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

Does this need adding to the abbreviations list? Google has no idea what D&SRFS is and neither do I.

Especially as the photos belonged to CFRS (Cornwall fire rescue service)

[Pb_devon]

Many apologies for leading you all up the garden path with my wrong acronym (and mistyping it didn't help!).  In my previous existance I had lots of dealings with the 'east of the Tamar' fire brigade hence using the acronym out of habit, rather than engaging brain.

[chrisr_75]

If I remember rightly, if you're involved in a road traffic accident and require an ambulance, you or your insurance will get a bill for said ambulance.

I would hope that these "people" (restraining myself) would get a bill from the fire service to cover to cost of pulling them out rather than coming from my council tax. Anyone who thinks they can drive through three and a half feet of flood water deserve to have their bank account drained.

Ranty rant....

Not sure about a bill for the recovery (likely to be charged at standard police rates if you block a road), but the police can certainly pursue a prosecution of careless or dangerous driving if you become stuck on a flooded road or I f you choose to pass 'road closed' signs.

I have a vehicle which is more than capable of safely getting through a metre of water with a very minor modification, do I deserve to have my bank account drained?!