Topsham has more than a dozen trained Flood Wardens whose job it is to help residents deploy, and take down, flood defences in a flood or potential flooding situation.
Flood Wardens help before, during and after a flooding emergency, generally helping those less able to deploy either their own flood defences. The role is as follows:
- Responsible for a defined sector (ie number of residences) within the Flood Zone in Topsham and / or general assistance with flood defences
- Ensuring that residents within that sector are aware that there might be flooding
- Assistance in deploying individual property flood defences (ie flood boards, sandbags)
- Helping to deploy community flood defences (where appropriate)
- Sounding ‘alerts’ and ‘all clear’
- Helping to clear up / remove flood defences, post-incident
- Act as a conduit of information between residents and the local emergency coordinator, and where necessary the emergency responding agencies such as Fire Service, Police and local Councils.
Flood Wardens are provided with personal protective clothing (PPE) in the form of yellow jackets and leggings and are encouraged to use their yellow laminated ‘action cards’, which lists critical ‘do’s and don’ts’ during a flooding situation. Equipment is stored on Topsham Quay and is issued at the emergency coordination point, which is usually located in Route 2 cafe or the Lighter Inn.
