THE immediate response to last autumn's floods in North Yorkshire was magnificent. Council workers, the emergency services, the Army and residents rose to the challenge and performed miracles, major and minor.

Such was the success of this team effort that York could advertise itself as "back in business" only days after the waters peaked.

Unfortunately, however, the longer term response to this disaster has not been so impressive. Some flood victims are still not back in their homes, nine months later. Others are living in the upstairs rooms only.

Witnessing the devastation wrought on their properties was traumatic enough. Since then, they have watched Christmas, spring and now summer go by from temporary accommodation.

It is not good enough. Measures must be taken to ensure that if the floods return, these nightmares do not.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, August 16, 2001