Toolstation holds fundraising day for RNLI Flood Rescue Team

Toolstation has held a major fundraising day to assist the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) Flood Rescue Team.

The Bridgwater company is a major sponsor of this highly trained unit, which specialises in search and rescue work in fast moving floodwater across the UK. Demand for its services has been at an unprecedented level in recent weeks responding to the UK floods.

Toolstation’s fundraising day was held in conjunction with the RNLI’s SOS day, and the company organised a number of sponsored events such as a 60s and 70s fancy dress day, a treasure hunt and a cake decorating competition. Additional fundraising activities were held across Toolstation’s 148 branches nationwide, and the company also took part in a national sweepstake based on all the RNLI lifeboat stations. All money raised will be given to the RNLI Flood Rescue Team.

“Flooding across the UK has reached exceptional levels and the RNLI’s Flood Rescue Team has been working nonstop to help people and communities in the affected areas,” said Toolstation’s Managing Director Neil Carroll.

“Since we took on the position of corporate sponsor for the Flood Rescue Team in 2010, one of our key aims has been to help raise funds and support its wide range of operational activities. The team does not receive government funding and we are pleased that everyone at Toolstation was willing to support and raise more money for such a great cause.”

Robin Goodlad, RNLI Flood Response Manager, stated: “Demand for our services continues to grow fast, and our volunteer teams were deployed as recently as January evacuating people from flooded homes in Wales. Since our formation in 2000, we now have around 250 trained volunteers divided into teams around the UK and Ireland to respond to incidents of inland flooding. Although Flood Rescue Team members are lifeboat crew, they undertake specialist training in order to work in floodwater, which behaves differently to the seawater they are used to. They are also equipped with specialist equipment to enable them to carry out their vital work. We’re really grateful for the support of Toolstation in funding our training and equipment and for taking part in our major fundraising day.”

As reported by the Financial Times on 13 February, in the Thames Valley area alone, more than 80 000 sandbags had been delivered to those affected by the flooding.

The Environment Agency has published guidelines on sandbag use, which can be found here. According to the document, for a standard door opening, at least 6 sandbags are required to keep out water that is 20 cm deep. The sandbags should contain around 15 kg of sand, which should be sharp rather than soft. The Environment Agency has listed the following advantages and disadvantages to sandbag use during flooding:

Advantages

• They can keep water out for short periods, which can be improved by using them in conjunction with plastic sheeting.
• They can filter out some muddy sediments found in flood waters.
• They are cheap and easy to obtain.

Disadvantages

• It takes two people to fill them (unless you have a sandbag filling machine).
• They take time to fill (approximately one hour to fill 12 sandbags).
• They can be difficult to handle.
• Laying them can be very time-consuming.
• Sacking material is biodegradable and will perish if left in place for a long time.
• It is difficult to place sandbags in water and particularly in running water.
• Sandbags do seep water even when well-stacked and trodden into place.

Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/21022014/toolstation_holds_rnli_flood_rescue_team_fundraising_day_787/