West Norfolk plans in place for flood disaster
Parts of West Norfolk underwater and Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital forced to evacuate – not a result of this week's dreadful weather – but a major emergency response exercise held in the town.
A number of agencies, from the borough council, emergency services, volunteer sector and the QEH itself, were involved in the day-long event held at Knight's Hill Hotel on Wednesday.
Dozens of people took part in Operation Ancient Mariner which presented a situation where serious flooding occured in West Norfolk, not dissimilar to the floods of 1953 and 1978.
Television news bulletins provided realistic updates during the exercise which saw a huge area flooded and major infrastructure problems, including road closures and loss of power and water supplies.
Emergency response groups were gathered throughout the Knights Hill complex working on procedures to enact.
Finally, after a five-day battle, the QEH had to be evacuated due to the logistical problems of closed roads and distribution of bottled water supplies.
The exercise was arranged by the Health Protection Agency Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
It and was the first major multi-agency event to be held in Lynn.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
