A major incident was declared by Devon and Cornwall Police in the early hours of this morning, following flooding at the Mill on the Mole residential park in South Molton.
Heavier than expected rain passed through the area from 5pm last night, causing the River Mole to flood and sending deep and fast flowing water through the site.
It has been reported that, at times, the water was up to four feet deep.
Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, coastguard teams from Falmouth, Lynmouth and Bideford, district and County Council staff and the Environment Agency all worked together to ensure the safety of the residents and to evacuate some of them.
By 5.50am the rain had stopped and the flood subsided very rapidly, leaving water on the site only ankle deep. No more residents have been evacuated and those that were are returning to their homes. Nobody was injured due to the flooding incident.
Coastguard duty controller Dai Jones said: “The police contacted us around 5am to ask for the extra assistance. Our Coastguard Rescue Teams have expertise in water rescue which means we can provide extra help in these kind of flooding incidents.”
People evacuated from the chalets and otherwise affected by the flooding were looked after at a reception centre set up at South Molton Community College, which has now closed.
Police advise that there are several road closures in the area and in other areas of North Devon, and members of the public are urged not to drive through flooded roads and to take extra care because of the risk of debris brought down into roads by high winds.
We are looking into the further reports and will have more information up as and when. Read more at http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/8203-residents-evacuated-from-mill-on-the-mole-residential-park-in-south-molton-after-flooding/story-29919164-detail/story.html#XXfsFTwC67HDQmsw.99
Reference: North Devon Journal. 2016. Residents evacuated from Mill on the Mole residential park in South Molton after flooding. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/8203-residents-evacuated-from-mill-on-the-mole-residential-park-in-south-molton-after-flooding/story-29919164-detail/story.html#XXfsFTwC67HDQmsw.99. [Accessed 21 November 2016].