GMP co-ordinating response alongside GMFRS due to severe flooding across Greater Manchester

As New Year’s Day has progressed, both our officers and specialised units deployed at key locations across Greater Manchester, alongside Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), mountain rescue and local councils have been dealing with the impact the severe rainfall and flooding has had on our communities.

The affected areas still under monitoring are as follows, which now includes Trafford due to a developing landscape:

• Didsbury, South Manchester – This evening, after collaboration between partner agencies including GMP, GMFRS, and the local authority, we have been able to safely evacuate 445 people including residents and members of staff from a hotel on Palatine Road. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, and those who have been displaced continue to be supported by the local authority.

• Stockport – This evening we have assisted the evacuation of several residents at a block of flats at Meadow Mill. A council refuge centre is at Holdsworth Mill in Reddish. 

• Trafford – has been added due to intelligence suggesting the area of Bowden on the border of Cheshire will be affected due to an aqueduct bursting.

• Wigan – localised flooding across the borough, and a council refuge centre at Robin Park.

With the current situation changing and weather easing in places, these below are no longer areas of serious concern for the current response after being resolved;

• Bolton
• Harpurhey, North Manchester
• Stalybridge

In addition to working directly with the Environment Agency and Highways England, due to the declaring of a major incident, and reports being received around damage, risk to life and stranded vehicles. The response is still significant whilst we continue to determine who needs to be displaced from their homes as a last resort for purely safety reasons whilst we collectively monitor.

On the update, Chief Superintendent Colette Rose said: “We are continuing to monitor the whole of Greater Manchester as we look to co-ordinate the emergency response involving a variety of services.

“Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been key to this to ensure we can keep those people and communities safe after the severe weather we have had.

“Thankfully, due to the efforts of all involved so far no one has been seriously injured or come to harm and would like to thank members of the public for their continued co-operation especially around the road closures in place and looking out for each other.

“Anyone still affected should continue to check the relevant detail being shared by their local council, the fire service and Transport for Greater Manchester to ensure they can get the support available that may be needed.”

Flooding in your area

If flooding has affected your area, you can contact Floodline by phone on 0345 988 1188 or by text on 0345 602 6340, or contact your local authority if you have questions.

You can sign up for flood warnings at gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings

Anyone with information around any developments or in need of assistance are asked to call 101 quoting log 3258 of 31/12/2024. In an emergency, always dial 999 in the first instance.

Advice from Electricity North West during a flood:

• Make sure any appliances or electrical equipment is switched off.
• Turn off your power supply by the isolator switch but only if it's safe to do so.
• Do not touch any electricity points when standing in water.
• Check any elderly or sick neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe.

After a flood:

• If your supply is still on or has been underwater and comes back on, contact a qualified electrician.
• If your meter point has been underwater or still have no electricity please contact us on 105 or report a power cut for us to do a safety check.
• If you can smell smoke or you are in any doubt, contact a qualified electrician or contact us on 105.

If you need any additional support go to www.enwl.co.uk/ExtraCare or call Electricity North West on 105.