Last updated at 11:53, Friday, 31 August 2012

A £50,000 fund has been set up for victims of the flooding in west Cumbria.

The ‘emergency assistance’ cash has been set up by Cumbria Community Foundation and is aimed at people over 70, families with children under five and people with disabilities or on low incomes.

Foundation director Andy Beeforth said it was very sad to see, once again, people’s lives “turned upside down” by flooding.

People can apply for grants of up to £1,000 to help them clean up their homes and recover from the flooding which hit the west of the county overnight on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

For more information or to apply for a grant, see www.cumbriafoundation.org

Copeland council leader Elaine Woodburn said the authority will work with two local grant providing organisations – the Copeland Community Fund and the Cumbria Community Foundation – to help those in difficulty.

“We are urging all residents whose homes have been flooded to get in touch with us so we can build up a pattern of all the affected areas,” she said.

Environment Agency officers are assessing affected areas to identify the precise causes of flooding and working with Copeland council to see if any work is required to maintain levels of flood protection.

A number of the affected properties in Egremont are owned by social landlords Home Group (in the Orgill area) and Two Castles (at Church View).

Dave Armstrong, housing services director at Two Castles, said: “Although the flood water has now subsided, we have been liaising with our residents and their families affected by the damage to ensure that we find them suitable temporary accommodation whilst further investigations are being made to their properties.”

Rosemary Du Rose, Home Group’s executive director of customer service, said: “Alternative accommodation in local hotels has been offered to all those affected. Some families have chosen to remain in their homes or stay with relatives.”

NHS Cumbria is asking anyone coming into contact with flood water or soiled material to make sure they follow hygiene advice, particularly washing hands.

Anyone feeling distressed by the incidents should speak to their GP or call First Step on 0300 123 9122.

First published at 11:27, Friday, 31 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk