Coventry Charity Delivers Aid Following South Wales Flooding

A Coventry-based charity dispatched a team to south Wales to provide assistance to residents of Pontypridd impacted by recent flooding. Volunteers representing Langar Aid, a component of the humanitarian organization Khalsa Aid International, expressed their intention to contribute to the relief efforts for those affected by Storm Bert. A group, which included Marcus Lapsa, a native of Nelson, Caerphilly, transported 200 packed lunches, cleaning supplies, and dehumidifiers. Mr. Lapsa said: “It was a bit emotional, obviously. It’s an honour and a privilege to be able to help communities in need.” The 68-year-old grandfather recounted encountering an elderly couple who demonstrated the damage inflicted upon their home by the flooding. He stated: “When people are at their lowest and then they have that touch of humanity and they know someone is there that cares then it does bring communities together.” A substantial clean-up operation has commenced following the flooding caused by Storm Bert, amid concerns voiced by politicians and residents regarding what they perceived as inadequate preparation and insufficient warning. In Cwmtillery, Blaenau Gwent, a former mining community, structures were submerged in sludge and mud after a landslip, leading to the evacuation of several properties. Mr. Lapsa proceeded to Trallwn Community Centre early on Monday, accompanied by fellow volunteers Kully Kaur Deol and Bill Mato. Mr. Lapsa remarked, “Everybody was so lovely and so welcoming,” adding that assisting others was “what Welsh people do” and therefore it was gratifying to offer support. Langar Aid project manager Avtar Kaur stated: “We saw what was happening across Wales and how people were getting affected by the floods and we were trying to see where we could help out.” She noted that the charity benefits from a dedicated group of volunteers, whose actions align with “following the Sikh ethos of recognising the human race as one.” Ms. Kaur reported receiving numerous positive comments from the people of Pontypridd, describing it as “just amazing to see the community spirit and how everyone comes together.” Sabrina Butler, an on-call firefighter for Treorchy and a control room operator, is among the personnel at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) who have been commended for their commitment in addressing the flooding. Ms. Butler maintained her work duties even though the entire ground floor of her residence had been flooded. She explained: “My fridge was floating around the kitchen, but I left my partner and my grandfather at home to deal with the clean-up operation whilst I went to work and stayed in the control room to assist.” She added: “The calls kept coming, and I knew I had to be there.” Natalie Pearce from SWFRS remarked: “We weren’t expecting Sabrina to come to work, knowing that her house had been flooded.” Ms. Pearce commended the “selfless dedication to duty” exhibited by employees, noting that some staff extended their shifts and worked for more than 24 hours. She further stated, “Our control operators stood by their team members during a period of high call demand to make sure we could help the people of our communities at a time of devastation which is both mentally and physically debilitating,” conveying their solidarity with all those impacted by Storm Bert. The fire service reported receiving 203 calls between 5:00 and 8:00 GMT on Sunday, with the volume escalating throughout the morning. By 9:00 GMT, an additional 108 calls were recorded, reaching a peak of 120 calls awaiting response at one juncture during the day. A resident in Llanhilleth, Blaenau Gwent, informed the BBC that “many people are on edge” following the flooding. Sian Rhiannon Samuel, a resident of Railway Terrace, stated that CCTV footage from her home recorded the moment water began emerging from the ground on Sunday. She indicated that numerous homes in the area had been flooded, with some having “lost everything downstairs.” Ms. Samuel also raised safety concerns, specifically mentioning “exposed wires” in proximity to the flood’s origin. She concluded: “It’s scary how quickly the flooding came – it literally tore the road open like it was nothing.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.