Embargo: Immediate
Cornish firm to the rescue as Somerset villages recover from flooding.
Richford’s Fire & Flood technicians are currently helping property owners to recover their lives in Moorland on the Somerset Levels. This was one of the worst hit places in Britain during the recent spate of storms and high rainfall. Work has only just started in drying out homes and businesses because it has taken several weeks for water levels to drop. Flooding had to recede far enough to get pumps and drying equipment onto site.
The community has featured on national and international news in recent weeks as it battled to hold back the rising waters and met with a stream of politicians making fact-finding missions to the county. Richfords Fire & Flood was, in fact, the first flood recovery firm to get into the village at the beginning of the month using a vintage caterpillar track military vehicle. It is now working at 14 properties in Moorland.
Now that the company has been able to access the area, it is bringing in state-of-the-art drying equipment to remove water and dry out walls and floors. The next stage is for technicians to go into action cleaning and sanitising properties.
Business Development Director, Michael Cooper, said:
“Our drive is to help people get their lives back together as quickly as possible. It is important that, whilst doing this, we do not throw out damaged furniture and belongings if they can be salvaged. So, in many cases, we are carrying out furniture restoration firms and building work.”
One of the properties being recovered by Richfords’ technicians is the church of St Peter & St John. Crews are working on a tight schedule to put the village’s centre of worship back into action in time for Easter.
Michael Cooper said:
“The church is such an important focal point for the village that we are pulling out all the stops to put pews, hymn books and the organ back how they were in time for the main event of the Christian year. Getting the church open for worship again will act as a sign to locals that progress is being made.”
Despite the media storm of interest during the peak of the flooding, the recovery work on homes, businesses and local facilities is expected to continue for many more weeks yet.
Richfords Fire & Flood is producing a film of the work and will be available on www.richfords.com.
ENDS.
For further comment and interviews, call: Michael Cooper 01209 722 522
01209 722 522 / 07968 175 45507968 175 455
Notes for editors:
· Richfords has depots in Pool (near Redruth) and at Cullompton (on the M5).
· Richfords crews have also been working at a wide range of other locations after the floods, including Cornwall, Devon and Surrey.