COUNCILLORS in York have been shown how the city could follow East Yorkshire’s example in getting communities to play their part when flooding strikes.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has developed “community resilience” measures since 2007’s major floods, brought into force recently when flooding struck many areas, including Burton Fleming.

The initiative has included town and parish councils making their premises available for emergency services and flooding agencies as temporary accommodation, and residents helping neighbours, making sure vulnerable and elderly people get swift attention during floods and organising public meetings to discuss future plans.

City of York Council’s community safety overview and scrutiny committee, which is analysing the authority’s “readiness” to deal with major flooding, has been given a presentation by the East Yorkshire authority’s emergency planning manager, Alan Bravey, on how the scheme worked and how it could be operated in York.

Mr Bravey said: “Residents’ associations, Neighbourhood Watch groups and others can draw up local emergency plans with the council’s support, even if they cover just a handful of streets, and York councillors were interested in how it could be translated to their city.

“It’s all about being a good neighbour and helping others.”