Flood Risk Prompts Evacuation of Fiskerton Village
Residents in the Lincolnshire village of Fiskerton are facing an uncomfortable waiting game following an alert concerning the potential breach of a local river. Fiskerton, which houses just over 1,000 inhabitants, was the scene of a partial evacuation as authorities assessed the risk of serious flooding.
A Late-Night Knock
The architect of the evacuation process was the local police, with officers knocking on around 70 doors late into the night. They were acting on the advice of the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, which flagged concerns about the potential for the River Witham to breach its banks.
"We're keeping an eye on it because we can see the fields and see when it changes. Everyone's been helpful and I got a call from the sergeant today. It's nice that they've got everything set up." stated Fiskerton resident, Sam Hedger.
River Status Monitored
The Fire and Rescue Service noted that while River Witham levels aren't expected to rise further, the possibility of a breach has led to close monitoring of the situation. The Environment Agency confirmed that damage has been detected in the bank over a stretch of about 30 meters.
Preventive Measures
An information centre has been established at Fiskerton Village Hall for residents requiring assistance or a temporary place to stay. Simultaneously, engineers are immersed in assessing the strength and integrity of the fragile riverbank, aiming to discern the opportunity for temporary repairs by October 26.
A Potential Crisis
Various residents express their fears and concerns. These include Anne Dawson, who lives near the 70 dwellings advised to evacuate and West Lindsey district councillor Christopher Darcel. The latter noting that, properties on Priory Drive, Meadow Bank Avenue, and Ferryside Gardens are among those most at risk.
"If the river does break its banks it will be most unpleasant", said Councillor Darcel.
Emergency Response
Among the support staff on-site is Steve Eason-Harris, an emergency planner at Lincolnshire County Council. Eason-Harris stressed that the evacuation was precautionary based on a plausible threat of a riverbank breach.
"We'd rather get people safe now while it's dry and light rather than wait until it's dark and put more risk on people we're trying to safeguard." he added.