Volunteers Association. Walcott has had a team of volunteers monitoring the sea since 1976 after the sea breached the defenses and flooded properties on the sea front including the post office. They were known as Walcott Flood Wardens. Some of them were fishermen so were very familiar with how the weather conditions could cause major problems with the sea. Two of them are still flood wardens today.
In 1997, the parish council decided that the flood wardens should change their name as It was putting people off of buying property In Walcott knowing that there were flood wardens monitoring the sea In case of flooding and someone suggested they should be called WAVE. There are 18 wardens at the moment, 3 of them are up to date first alders. We’re fully Insured for what we do and have allowably Insurance In case of an accident when helping people to evacuate their homes.
We also have insurance for a flat bottom aluminum boat that can be used to rescue people if needed. We are independent and raise funds for our insurance and equipment by holding a fun day at the Lighthouse Inn every other year. We all have yellow fluorescent Jackets with WAVE flood warden on the back, waterproof leggings and boots, head lamps, two-way radios, life Jackets and WAVE picture ID cards. All wardens work in pairs and have their own sections of Walcott that they are responsible for.
They have to know who lives in their section, which houses are holiday homes and where every drain cover is in case any get lifted by the sea. HOW WE WORK. Flooding only occurs if the tide is high with a strong wind blowing from the north or northwest. Two of the wardens will go on tide watch about 3 hours before high tide day or night) and if they think there is any chance of flooding they radio through to me and I call the other wardens out.
I then ring Steve at the Lighthouse (our evacuation point) The decision Is then made whether or not it Is going to be bad enough to evacuate people. All vulnerable or disabled are the first to be evacuated. Wardens knock on the doors In their section and advise people to go to the Lighthouse. Transport Is provided for those who haven’t got any. They are signed In and their house Is marked off on a map.
