IT HAS been at the heart of the crisis since it began – and a borough council-run response hub continues to play a key role in the response to the Buckskin floods.

The 24-hour emergency call centre was created on February 9 in a committee room at the borough council offices where staff are on hand to assist residents affected by flooding.

Borough council staff, who are working shifts to man the centre round-the-clock, also monitor water levels of rivers across the borough, the latest flood warnings and efforts to tackle floodwater.

Those manning the centre liaise with partner agencies involved with flooding issues, to update them on the latest information.

Karen Brimacombe, director of borough council services and one of the centre’s controllers, said: “We are asking what the community needs, and if it is something we can do ourselves from this room, we make sure that’s done and we have been working on that 24/7.

“We have been there for the community, such as organising storage units so they (residents) can put valuable possessions in them.”