Mold based rescue team NEWSAR called to multiple flooding incidents across North Wales on Sunday

A Flintshire based rescue team were called out on multiple flood-related ‘deployments’ during the course of Sunday as Storm Ciara battered the region.

The North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) team based in Mold, were scrambled to Conwy County and the village of Llanfair TH to assist with flooding incidents following torrential downpours which burst river banks.

Natural Resources Wales issued severe flood warnings for the River Elwy from Spring Gardens to Rhuddlan warning of a “danger to life.”

A number of roads in the area were closed due to flooding. 

Police evacuated Spring Gardens Caravan Park and properties in Llys y Felin with around 50 residents placed in a “rest centre” set up in the leisure centre.

NEWSAR assisted with the evacuation which included the residents’ pets.

Coastguard Rescue Officers from Flint were placed on standby to assist if needed as part of civil contingency planning.

A spokesman for NEWSAR said the rescue was a, “true multi agency response.

Working closely with North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, Police, Fire and Rescue Service, RNLI flood team and many others

Thanks in particular to the RNLI for use of their facilities in St. Asaph and for the fire service for the decontamination facilities.”

NEWSAR is a volunteer Search and Rescue (Mountain Rescue) Organisation which is on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Their primary operating area is in North East Wales mainly covering the counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and parts of Conwy and Powys.

The team also regularly assists Mountain Rescue teams elsewhere in North Wales as well as Lowland Search and Rescue teams in Cheshire and Shropshire.

NEWSAR volunteers also assist Police in searching for vulnerable people who are missing from home or those in need of rescue.

All team members are volunteers and we do not receive any payment for providing this service to the Police.

It costs approximately £25,000 a year to run the Team – this covers fuel and repairs for vehicles, protective equipment for team members, training courses and team equipment such as ropes, stretchers etc.

As NEWSAR is a Registered Charity the vast majority of this money is raised through grants, individual donations, legacies, street collections and collection tins.

For further details of their fundraising activities, visit the Fundraising Page