During his visit, Mr Hope met South Northamptonshire Council Leader Sandra Barnes and Chief Executive Jean Morgan in Towcester to discuss how the council responded to the flooding. He also toured the village of Helmdon, where about 10 houses were flooded and the local school was forced to close.
Phil Hope said:
"There has been some tremendous cooperation within communities to support the victims of this summer's flooding. In Helmdon, charities like the Red Cross and Salvation Army pulled together to have a reception centre for potential evacuees up and running as soon as the emergency plan was activated, and kept it manned day and night.
"So often charities and volunteers can be the unsung heroes, but in situations of crisis they are often among the first to help, providing food, shelter and compassion for those affected. They deserve our thanks, and our support to ensure they continue to play a vital role in emergency response and recovery, alongside statutory agencies such as the police, fire service and local authorities.
"More generally, I am here to reassure the people affected that the government will listen and learn from their experiences so we can minimise the risk of their suffering in the future."
Significant efforts have been made to ensure the resumption of normal business in Northamptonshire following the floods, including more than £73,000 issued to the county in government aid. This includes £50,000 from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) for affected schools, including Helmdon Primary School, and a £23,000 flood recovery grant to South Northamptonshire.
The important role of the voluntary sector in planning for emergencies was recognised in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This established a statutory framework for civil protection at a local level, setting out a clear set of roles and responsibilities for local responders and a requirement for them to take into account the activities of voluntary sector organisations which might be relevant in an emergency.
In South Northamptonshire, this was coordinated by the County Council's emergency planning team.
