The Lancashire Resilience Forum held a successful flood training session for partners hosted by Wyre Council.

More than 50 attendees from a wide range of organisations, along with local flood action group volunteers, took part in the event. The session aimed to increase understanding of flood response arrangements and existing plans across Lancashire, while also providing greater insight into the roles and responsibilities of those involved in responding to flooding incidents.

Presentations were delivered by the Met Office, the Environment Agency, United Utilities, SP Electricity North West, Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council, alongside representatives from the police, fire and the North West Ambulance Service.

Participants also worked through a series of realistic scenarios, discussing how they would respond to flooding incidents. This collaborative approach helped identify key lessons and strengthened shared understanding.

Andrea Deninson, Senior Emergency Planner at Wyre Council who coordinated the training, said: “It was really positive to see such a broad mix of experience in the room.

“As much as the day was about hearing from partners on their flood response roles, it was equally about bringing people together to share knowledge, build connections, and leave with a better understanding of how we can collectively respond during flood incidents.

“Training days like this are always valuable, creating space for those important conversations. While they can’t fully replicate the pace and pressure of a live incident, they play an important role in building shared understanding and highlighting how flood response works in practice.

“It was particularly positive to have several of our vital Community Flood Action Groups involved.

“Their contribution to local resilience is hugely important, and events like this help connect communities with partner agencies while reinforcing the role individuals and groups can play in preparing for flooding.’’

To see an example of how one Wyre flood action group in Churchtown near Garstang made a huge difference see this video here: How the Churchtown Flood Action Group worked in partnership to save the village | Lancashire Resilience Forum