A DROP in session was held at Fishguard Yacht Club last Tuesday night to make sure local residents are well prepared for incidents of flooding.

The event was organised by Pembrokeshire County Council and was attended by agencies such as Natural Resources Wales, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Welsh Water and the South Wales Trunk Roads Agency.

It was in response to extreme incidents of flooding in January and February this year, when up to 14 properties in Lower Town were inundated with water as a result of high tides and severe weather.

Officers were available to listen to residents’ experiences and answer questions, as well as share information and advice.

Gerallt Richards from Natural Resources Wales said: “A lot of the people who came along to the meeting are already very familiar to us.

“The majority of properties benefit from flood gates which expand to stop water from going in, while others will have what you call a smart air break.”

County Councillor Myles Pepper said: “The bringing together of all the relevant agencies is a real assurance to the residents here.

“What they are trying to do is to make people best prepared for what are more like than unlikely situations.

“There are problems which don’t just relate to the sea, but to water coming off the side/feeder roads into Lower Town, some are local authority and some are trunk road.

“The representative from the Trunk Roads Agency has actually gone off with locals to get first-hand knowledge of where the problems are.”

Dai Hancock, Fishguard Fire Station Manager, said: “Traditionally we are called to respond when flooding incidents have already happened, but there are some things we can do to assist beforehand.

“We could supply a lorry with six able persons to help remove furniture, help deploy sandbags and floodgates.”

“It makes the response so much easier if you get the prevention right.”