flood volunteers

Unsung heroes of the UK floods 2014

Welcome to my latest installment of thoughts and opinions. Today im thinking about the unsung heroes of the floods. Whilst the news coverage is hastily filming the response to the floods i can't help but think wow ! Usually when we tune in to major incidents we see overwhelming public services and a minority of volunteers working in the background. But these floods have almost seen a complete role reversal. 

Whilst watching the latest news installment on the floods, (which by the way seemed to be completely addicted with slating the environment agency, then obsessing over the arrival of the army, and which resulted in mob interviews almost like a crowd of teenage girls outside a bieber concert). I realised how many 'responders' were actually volunteer. 

The people in those big bulky White/orange chequered Defenders ? Yep their volunteers, either Mountain Rescue or lowland search and rescue volunteers. Many are water rescue trained so are responding in buoyancy aids and boats, carrying out multiple roles. They make up a nationwide network of teams, and many teams have sent members to the floods who themselves were not directly affected. 

The Blue land rover defenders and RIB boats ? yep their the RNLI volunteer flood rescue teams. Made up of lifeboat station staff from Wales and Somerset, their trained on Swift water and highly trained for water rescue.  

Those teams of people in large humanitarian trucks that look more suited to warzones ? They'll be the Red Cross, the red cross are providing supplies, checking on residents, and providing rest places for displaced residents.

Watersafe Rescue team is another voluntary, water rescue trained organisation that volunteers to help public services with flood and water rescue incidents. Theres also 4x4 volunteer response teams scattered across the country, that come together to put their 4x4s to good use helping emergency services, nurses and carers to get out to residents. Khalsa aid a humanitarian relief group and is delivering supplies and providing man power building flood defences. Theres the FLAG Flooding on the levels of Acton group that has brought the community together. The National union of farmers volunteers are organising silage, hay and straw donations for flood hit farms. Even a prisoner in Surrey has managed to get release, so he can help fill sandbags for the floods. 

NOW I WONDER,

How many of us have ever donated to one of these charities ? How many of us knew that these charities even existed ? I know i certainly didn't know about a couple of them. Maybe we should put a little less energy into slating the environment agency (lets leave that until after the flood water resides) ..... and a little more time into supporting or even helping the mighty people that go by the name of VOLUNTEERS ! 

What do you think ? I'd love to know your opinion.