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Number of premises visited 1849
Number of rooms flooded 2874
Number of children involved 1385
Number of adults involved 2195
Public Health Department.
FLOODING IN WEST HAM (Supplementary Report).
In two previous reports upon the Flood which occurred in
West Ham on January 7th last, I have outlined the services
rendered by my Department in this connection.
It is perhaps only fair to my staff that I should place on
record in some detail, their unstinted and willing labours to assist
in alleviating the distress of the people involved. As soon as it
became known that certain areas in West Ham had become
flooded, steps were taken to render all possible immediate help.
With the co-operation of the staffs at the Fever Hospital and
the Public Baths, blankets, towels, soap, etc., were provided for
the comfort of those homeless people temporarily housed in the
Public Hall, Canning Town. Each Sanitary Inspector and each
Health Visitor spent the ensuing two days working late on in the
evening, going from house to house in the involved areas, collecting
information in regard to the number of sick or infirm, with a
view to their removal, without delay, to suitable accommodation,
either in Hospital or elsewhere; much further information also
was collected in regard to the extent of the distress caused—
information which proved of the utmost value in dealing with the
problem.
The Health Visitors were engaged at the Public Hall assisting
in respect to putting the babies to bed at night, and in bathing
them in the morning. Each night a doctor from my staff was in
attendance at the Public Hall in order to guard against the possible
retention there of anyone who might be suffering from an
infectious disease.
Much labour was expended by my Office Staff in arranging
for the provision and proper distribution of the mattresses, etc.,
in those cases where it was necessary, as well as in analysing the
very large number of returns previously referred to.
When it is considered that no fewer than 2,874 rooms were
flooded, the amount of work involved will at once be realised.
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