Callout 5 – Storm Chandra flooding East Devon

North Dartmoor Search and Rescue team were called at 04:00 Tuesday morning.

Two on duty Search Managers were deployed to Ottery St Mary Fire Station to accompany the Silver Cell to organise assets and assessments of deployment as incidents come throughout the day.

We joined our colleagues in Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team – Ashburton Devon & Cornwall 4×4 Response Devon & Cornwall Police HART South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to multiple incidents across East Devon.

Our Swift Water Rescue Team was called and deployed at 06:00, meeting at Sowton Park and Ride to meet our Team Land Rovers and Devon and Cornwall 4×4 Response. From here, two teams: Dart 11 and Dart 12 were deployed to various villages and road traffic collisions (RTCs) along the River Otter between East Budleigh and Ottery St Mary.

Both teams conducted river level checks, wellbeing checks on the public and evacuations of flooded properties and vehicles caught in the flooding.

Dart 11 evacuated and rescued an individual with their dog from a flooded property next to the River Otter and attended an incident in Otterton, to an individual who reported having chest pains. SWAST met the team at the property and a rolling convoy following the ambulance back to the main road avoiding flooded and damaged roads.

Dart 12 conducted numerous village visits and attended multiple RTCs where individuals were navigating the flooded roads.

NDSART were stood down at 17:00 with our sister team Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team – Tavistock taking over.

Water levels remain high with extensive damage along the rivers. Take care and keep up to date with the situation from Devon and Cornwall Police posts.

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATER!

Just 30cm of flowing water is sufficient to move most cars, while 60cm of rushing water can sweep away larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks. As little as 15cm of fast-moving water can cause loss of control and knock a person off their feet.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for further rain tomorrow and Friday. Please do not take the risk in floods and stay safe.