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40
On Sunday morning the water was receding fairly rapidly and
it was found unnecessary to use a boat to get the people out. The
police decided that they would not undertake to instruct the Fire
Brigade in this respect, and therefore the Sanitary Inspector made
a personal appeal to the Fire Brigade who immediately came to the
scene and removed one family of five persons from one house, and an
elderly man from another. The remaining occupants of the property
decided they would not leave as the water was still receding. The
persons removed were conveyed to the Rest Centre in this Department's
vehicle. The Rest Centre would not receive the elderly man
owing to his verminous condition, and he was therefore taken to an
infirmary in Southwark Bridge Road.
Complaints were received that one family had no food and no
coal, and this complaint was met by providing a small quantity of
coal from the Disinfecting Station and delivering it to them, and a
small quantity of food from elsewhere.
At Essex Wharf the water had also receded to a sufficient extent
to allow foot passage over planks into the premises, and it was
found that the occupants were doing their best to clear the slime
and mud from such of their effects as were above water. The
Inspector was satisfied that they had food supplies and that none
of them wished to avail themselves of the Rest Centre Service.
With regard to one case, at No. 3, Willow Farm Cottages, the
husband was very ill in bed and an offer was made to get him
removed to hospital, but the offer was refused. Nothing further
could be done on Sunday afternoon.
The position was similar in respect of the other flooded premises,
the water was receding and the occupants of the premises did not
want to leave to go to the Rest Centre.
As regards coal, the Fuel Overseer was immediately informed
of the circumstances when the Sanitary Inspectors had realised the
plight of the people in the flooded areas, and the Fuel Overseer put
in hand the obtaining of priority dockets. The immediate necessity
was for Spring Lane. Seven families in Spring Lane received 2 cwts.
of coal each on priority dockets. Six deliveries were made by the staff
of the Public Health Department, who waded through the water,
and one was supplied by the London Co-operative Society. In
addition, before the priority dockets were issued one occupier was
supplied with coal from the Disinfecting Station. This coal, with
the exception of the one family supplied by the London Co-operative
Society, was brought down to the Lea by the vans of the Public
Health Department.