Burnham-On-Sea’s BARB Search & Rescue was among 20 voluntary organisations who pulled out all the stops during Somerset’s 82-day floods last winter – and who have been handed a prestigious award this week.
The Somerset Emergency Voluntary Agencies Group (SEVAG), of which BARB is a member, has received the Emergency Planning Society Resilience Award 2014 for the Voluntary Sector.
Made up of 20 different agencies, spanning the British Red Cross to Rotary Clubs, the award recognises the significant contribution that SEVAG made supporting the local response to the Somerset floods.
Somerset County Council Chairman David Fothergill this week held an official reception and presentation at County Hall in Taunton where the award was received by the groups.
Cllr Fothergill said: “The drive, tirelessness and expertise of the organisations that make up the Somerset Emergency Voluntary Agency Group has helped the county through some incredibly troubling times, and for that, we owe them a debt of gratitude.”
“They are a recognised and trusted group of volunteers who have become a fundamental part of our local response when the unexpected hits, and without them, we would be all the poorer.”
“I wish to give my sincere thanks to SEVAG for all the work put in by all 20 organisations, and I am extremely pleased to finally be able to present each with this long-deserved award.”
SEVAG is on permanent standby, ready to be called out by Somerset Local Authorities Civil Contingencies Partnership for County and District Services to help in response to, and recovery from, incidents as and when they are needed.
