EMERGENCY services are knocking on doors and advising Islanders to evacuate their homes amid fears that the flash flooding that has hit Grands Vaux could worsen.
Dozens of properties have already been evacuated after torrential rain overnight and Grands Vaux reservoir is now full and spilling water into nearby streams – threatening many more homes.
Emergency services were knocking on doors advising Islanders to leave their homes on Tuesday evening and evacuation calls are being carried out around the area of Grands Vaux School and running along Les Grands Vaux until Troy Court, including:
• Willow Grove
• Pillar Gardens
• Nicholson Close
• Whitely Close
• Sutton Court
• Wilkes Gardens
• Les Vaux Flats
Those who are able to safely leave their homes – upon advice from the emergency services – should immediately leave their properties. If residents have not been contacted within the next few hours, they are not being advised to evacuate.
Affected residents who have been told that they should evacuate are being encouraged to stay with friends and family for the short term. Andium have confirmed that it is confident they have enough rooms for their residents from the area and further hotel rooms are available as back up or for non-Andium residents who may need them.
At a press conference on Tuesday evening, Chief Minister Kristina Moore said: ‘I want to assure Islanders first and especially those who’ve been affected by the flooding that we will continue to provide support, including emergency accommodation, in the coming hours and days.
‘Once again, our community is showing its strength and resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. Our emergency services plan and prepare for such events and I’m exceptionally proud and grateful to them for their immediate and professional response.’
Chief fire officer Paul Brown said that he expected to be ‘through the back of the worst’ of the flooding on Tuesday night.
A Scientific Technical Advisory Cell is due to be formed on Wednesday to consider any public health implications, this includes the presence of human waste that may have come out of the drain system during the flooding. Parents are also being asked to be careful of where their children play, and pet owners should also be extra vigilant, while sea swimming is being discouraged until public health officials confirm it is safe to do so.
Shelter, support and hot food is being provided at St Saviour’s Parish Hall.
Grands Vaux School, which was closed today, will remain closed tomorrow.
