ShelterBox Assist In Floods On Their Own Doorstep

Cornish-based disaster relief charity, ShelterBox, is responding to a disaster on its doorstep today as severe flooding in mid-Cornwall has driven hundreds of people from their homes.

ShelterBox has distributed 60 blankets to Polkyth Leisure Centre near St Austell where Mevagissey residents are taking shelter. A further 240 blankets and 200 groundsheets are also on standby.

Heavy rains and high winds swept across the county last night causing rivers to burst their banks and swamping drainage systems.

ShelterBox Response Team Member, Tom Lay, was one of the team that delivered the emergency supplies to the leisure centre.

Tom said: ‘We received a call from Cornwall County Council asking for assistance at around lunchtime today. Being based in Helston meant we were able to act almost immediately sending out blankets and groundsheets to help the displaced families.

‘Flooding is devastating no matter who it happens to. The support ShelterBox has received from the local community over the years has been fantastic so to be able to help them out in a time of need is the least we can do.’

In January this year ShelterBox again jumped to the rescue of the local community during the extreme snow-fall that hit the region. The charity deployed its fleet of 4x4 vehicles to transport key hospital staff such as surgeons and nurses as well as out-patients, including kidney dialysis patients, to Treliske hospital.

Alf Evans, ShelterBox Operations Manager, said: ‘The flooding was caused by a very small but intense band of rain meaning the damage has been very localised. Our contacts at the Met Office say that the river flows are returning to normal now and we are not set for any more rain however ShelterBox will continue to monitor the situation and will respond to any further need.’

ShelterBox has had an official partnership with the Met Office since 2009. The Met Office provides weather forecasts, warnings and updates

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