TEMPORARY flood barriers will be deployed in the region for the first time next week in a training exercise to test their capabilities.
The Environment Agency will deploy 700 metres of temporary flood barriers along Newcastle’s Quayside on Tuesday in a live training exercise.
Five high-risk flood locations across the North-East have been identified for the one-metre high temporary barriers, which are held at strategic sites across the UK and can be transported anywhere in the country within 12 hours.
In December 2013, high tides led to 18 businesses on the Quayside being flooded.
Other temporary barriers will be stored in Blyth, the Dunston area of Gateshead, Hexham and Skinningrove, near Middlesbrough.
A year ago, Storm Desmond flooded more than 300 properties in the North East.
Alan Cadas, from the Environment Agency in the North-East, said: “We know the devastating impact flooding can have on people’s lives and livelihoods.
“We’ve worked hard this past year improving and repairing flood defences across the North-East to protect communities and businesses ahead of this coming winter.
“This exercise is another part of our winter readiness”.
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