Few people living inland would expect to rely on the RNLI to keep safe in their own communities but this was the reality for many driven from their homes by fl ooding in September 2008. The town of Morpeth, Northumberland, was worst hit when the River Wansbeck burst its banks.

Twenty one lifeboat crew volunteers from Blyth, Newbiggin, Amble, Sunderland and Redcar were deployed to help, with members of the RNLI’s Flood Rescue team. This specially trained and equipped group comprises RNLI volunteers and staff from across the service, available at 24 hours’ notice to respond to fl ooding emergencies at home or abroad. Meanwhile, it was business as usual at the charity’s 235 stations.

On 6 September, the Morpeth contingent worked solidly for 15 hours overnight, fi nally standing down at 10am, tired, dirty and hungry. Waveney Crookes, the RNLI’s Training Inspector for the north of England, was leading the operation and describes the scene: ‘The water came up to our chests inside people’s houses. Furniture and fridges were just fl oating around. Some of the residents were very distressed but generally they seemed amazingly stoical. My heart goes out to them. I can’t imagine what life is going to be like for them now.

’The crews rescued at least 24 people from their homes, including one elderly woman whose head injury needed urgent medical attention. Their work also included transporting engineers to the sites of gas leaks and power cuts, and doctors, medicines, food and water to the stranded. Waveney describes the conditions as ‘atrocious’ – and there were real dangers for the volunteers:

‘Inland fl ooding offers very different challenges to our crews from those they normally face at sea. In particular, the hazards are often hidden. The water will be polluted with sewage and chemicals, electrocution is a threat and heavy debris is speeding by. Wading through a fl ooded street, you could fall into a manhole whose cover has lifted; helming an infl atable rescue boat, you could hit barbed wire.

’Even the behaviour of the water itself is different, with swift and unpredictable currents that are hard to manage. This is why it is essential to have a core of specially trained individuals present, ensuring the safety of other crew.

Waveney comments: ‘Our crews were fantastic, supplementing the work of all the emergency services, the RSPCA and others who were helping. As time goes on, we’ll be training more and more volunteers in swift-water rescue techniques, to be ready for what looks like an increasing need.’