RED Cross emergency response teams were called in to help more than 20 flood victims evacuated from houses and two care homes in a Perthshire town today (Monday).
The drama happened in Comrie when the Water of Ruchill burst its banks after hours of torrential rain.
Volunteers from the Red Cross Fire and Emergency Services Support (FESS) unit based at Dundee and emergency response volunteers from across the area were called in to help by Tayside Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Some of the volunteers staffed a rest centre set up at a local church to give shelter to householders and those who had to be evacuated from the care homes.
And they were standing by to receive more flood victims if the waters continued to rise, threatening nearby homes.
Other volunteers in the specially equipped Red Cross FESS vehicle – an adapted mobile home where people can be given shelter, first aid, emotional support and dry clothing – were standing by to help with evacuations.
Robert Colburn, Red Cross senior service manager for East Scotland, said: “Our FESS team were called in by Tayside Fire and Rescue about 11.15 this morning. Just 20 minutes later, we were asked to send in emergency response volunteers by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Our main duties are to look after the welfare of people arriving at the rest centre and to give as much help as we can to the emergency services.
“All Red Cross FESS and emergency response volunteers are highly trained in the skills needed to look after people in times of crisis such as flooding or house fires.
“As an emergency response organisation, the Red Cross has vast experience of helping people in all sorts of crises.”
Being prepared for flooding is one of the main themes in this year’s Red Cross Ready For Winter? campaign, being delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government.
For information and practical advice on preparing for flooding, visit www.redcross.org.uk/flooding.
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Contact: Derek Masterton
Phone: 01418914016
Email: dmasterton@redcross.org.uk
Website: http://www.redcross.org.uk
