An Angus community’s “vibrant” response to major flooding has prompted a drive to create the county’s first disaster-proof centre.
The villages of Eassie, Nevay and Kirkinch and their surroundings were badly flooded during Storm Frank on December 30 last year.
While homeowners, farmers and businesses rallied to divert much of the torrent, residents felt more could be done to safeguard the area between Glamis and Newtyle in the event of future weather catastrophes.
And the directors of the Eassie and Nevay Hall at Balkeerie have launched a bid to become a “resilience centre” with help from emergency services, energy firm SSE and Angus Council.
The Eassie, Nevay & Kirkinch Community Association (ENKCA) opened the hall in 2011 after 10 years of planning, and raised half of the £540,000 cost.
An event on Wednesday heard its directors hope to provide relief against flood, fire, storm and disease by the end of November.
The group’s Marianne Jenkins told attendees: “Last Christmas we were quite badly flooded.
“The whole community pulled together and everybody helped and we managed to avert a fair bit of flooding.
“The directors of ENCKA considered how we can use the hall here to help, as a resilience centre.”
Chief planner Neil McLeod said the directors wanted to offer a “refuge” in times of need.
“This hall will serve the community if there is a major incident and we will work as a distribution centre,” he said.
“We are not taking over from emergency services.
“We are keeping ourselves going until help arrives.
“Will we be the first in Angus? I think so.”
Mr McLeod said the group is receiving help from the local community council, SSE is providing £4,000 for equipment and a generator access point, and South Angus SNP MSP Graeme Dey has thrown his support behind the project.
An Angus Council spokeswoman said: “We were delighted to assist the community association with their community resilience centre.
“Community resilience is about communities coming together in the event of an incident or emergency and pulling together their local resources and expertise to help themselves and each other.
“Our resilience team would be delighted to work with other communities across the county.
“If you or your community group are interested in community resilience, please get in touch with our resilience team on 03452 777 778.”
