Double praise for Lincolnshire's emergency professionals

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lincolnshire's Resilience Forum (LRF) have been presented with two awards and £20,000 by the Emergency Planning Society for their planning and preparations for Exercise Watermark and their work around East Coast flooding.

The Resilience Team of the Year award was given to the LRF for the ambitious and unique approach to the national flooding exercise 'Watermark' earlier this year that included testing water rescue capabilities in live exercises and an evacuation of volunteers in Sutton on Sea. The sponsors of this award have given £20,000 to the LRF which will be spent on extending and enhancing training amongst emergency responders from the partner organisations in Lincolnshire. 

Presenting the Resilience Team award, Rod Stafford from sponsors Vector Command, said:

"All the entries for this award demonstrated that they were highly skilled, competent and adaptable. One however, stood out from the crowd.  Embracing an innovative approach to a local risk, Lincolnshire's Training and Exercising Team delivered a wide ranging suite of products to businesses, the local community and the other resilience partners."

The LRF also won the National Capability award for the complete programme of work around East Coast flooding, delivered with the support of Mouchel the county council's programme delivery partner. This work includes a high-profile campaign to raise public awareness of coastal flooding, research into vulnerable communities, enhancing flood rescue capabilities and voluntary sector co-ordination.

The National Capability award winners were chosen by the Society and the Cabinet Office. Christina Scott, UK Director of Resilience at the Cabinet Office, presented the award. She said:

"Lincolnshire's Resilience Forum has spearheaded an ambitious programme of work to identify and address gaps in emergency planning and practitioner understanding of one of the top risks identified in the National Risk Assessment process. They have helped to drive work forward at National level, making a significant contribution to flood resilience."

Chair of the LRF, Richard Crompton from Lincolnshire Police, said:

"The Emergency Planning Society awards show best practice in this field and the competition was very strong. Our success really reflects the commitment to this work that all partners made in 2008 in setting out clear objectives and working incredibly hard to meet them.

David Powell, Head of Emergency Planning in Lincolnshire, said;

"Our approach to Exercise Watermark in particular showed just how far we have come, in delivering a week of excellent training and learning opportunities on a much larger scale than anywhere else in the country. I am delighted we have received such recognition from the Emergency Planning Society and Cabinet Office, both awards show just how well we work together with partners, the voluntary sector and our communities in Lincolnshire"