OREANDA-NEWS. A new motorised rescue boat is being purchased for use in Hampshire thanks to a 19,000 pounds cash injection from Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD).

Wessex Flood Rescue Unit (WFRU) is receiving the donation as part of SEPD’s Resilient Communities Fund, which is designed to help local groups and not-for-profit organisations improve the ability of their communities to withstand extreme weather events. The funding will not only enable the WFRU to purchase the boat, it will also pay for its members to undergo the necessary training courses associated with the new vessel. 

WFRU is a newly formed volunteer group and provides essential support to the emergency services working in areas threatened by flooding across the historical region of Wessex. The unit was created in response to the devastation caused by the floods in winter 2014, a time when individuals with water-based life saving skills were very much needed at a local community level.

Sam Bailey, WFRU unit manager, said the funding would make a huge difference across the county, as his team would be able to respond to a wide range of flood situations with a fully equipped motor vessel. “Up until now we have not had a motor-powered boat and this has meant that we weren’t always able to get to all of places we’d have liked. 

“The new boat will be added to DEFRA’s Asset Register, which means that we can be called to offer support during any flooding situation as and when it arises, and this is a great boost to the rescue efforts which are so vital to everyone across the community.”

Stuart Hogarth, SEPD’s Director of Distribution said that this donation is testament to the great community spirit shown during times of crisis, having witnessed first-hand the types of damage that flooding can cause: “My memories of the flooding in winter 2014 are very clear, with our engineers battling hard to keep the lights on and the local communities working together to offer each other vital friendship, support and assistance. The WFRU, which is made up of locally-based volunteers is a great example of this community spirit and I wish them all the best with their new boat and training courses.”