Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response events co-ordinator Rob Hawley with a pack of FloodSax All these 20 FloodSax came from this easy-to-carry box FloodSax alternative sandbags can hold back a powerful torrent of floodwater FloodSax are also designed to be used inside to soak up floods and leaks

Emergency off-roaders receive major grant so they can get FloodSax alternative sandbags to people at serious risk of flooding

A group of volunteers who use their hardy 4x4 vehicles to deal with any emergencies in Norfolk and Suffolk have been given a £2,000 grant to help people at imminent risk of flooding.

Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response has 60 volunteers who react quickly to any emergency call-outs to people stuck and needing help in remote locations inaccessible to other vehicles.

One of the main hazards people face is flooding and the response group has already seen the positive impact alternative sandbags called FloodSax can have as they are very space-saving to carry on their vehicles to help people facing a severe threat from flooding.

The group has received £2,000 from Norfolk Community Foundation which has been running for 20 years and in that time has given out over £50m to help over 2,000 small charitable groups. The foundation has several funds and the way it works is that businesses, philanthropists and kind-hearted families put a large amount of money in their own fund and then the interest reaped is given to charities, good causes and community groups across Norfolk who apply for funding. It means these endowment funds will always be there 

Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response has received the money from the Lovewell Blake Grantmaking Programme which aims to benefit smaller, often lesser-known community based organisations where small grants can make a big difference.

Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response events co-ordinator Rob Hawley said: “We are buying as many FloodSax as we can to distribute among key members in both Norfolk and Suffolk so when any flooding occurs on our patch we can dispatch FloodSax anywhere in the two counties covering 3,540 square miles within the hour of receiving a call.”

It means if flooding is imminent they can get the FloodSax to the scene quickly to protect homes and businesses. FloodSax are vacuum-packed in bags of five and resemble large pillowcases – very flat with a large surface area - before they are immersed in water. When this happens, a special gelling polymer inside the FloodSax absorbs the water and retains it so it expands to become an instant sandless sandbag.

They are made by pioneering Yorkshire company Environmental Defence Systems Ltd and in their dry state FloodSax can be used inside to soak up internal leaks and floods to prevent water damage.

Around 3 million have been sold worldwide and they will have prevented millions of pounds of water damage worldwide since they were invented by EDS managing director Richard Bailey almost 20 years ago.

Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response’s services are very much in demand with just over 400 callouts in 2024 and members driving around 20,000 miles on urgent mercy missions.

The team has a phenomenal reputation with the average response time now just 37 minutes and the quickest response a mere 11 minutes.

Rob said: “Although it may be warm and sunny now, flooding can quickly become a big problem, especially if the area gets hit by a thunderstorm, and we’ve had some very wet periods in recent times which is why it’s so important we are prepared for it.

“When it rains in Norfolk and Suffolk, many back roads become impassable.”

Rob also revealed that floodwater can rise incredibly quickly in the counties after torrential rain, never more so than when Storm Babet struck in October 2023.

He revealed that a ford in the Suffolk village of Debenham 10 miles north of Ipswich is usually less than 10 inches deep but rose rapidly to more than 7ft.

“I’d never seen it more than 1ft deep before,” said Rob. “It flooded several nearby properties.”

He added: “The FloodSax are space-saving to store and so lightweight to transport we can just chuck a box or two each containing 20 in the back and away we go.

“I was with a similar response organisation in the past which tried to take old-style sandbags out to people during emergencies but it took so much manpower to lift them and transport them anywhere and we need trailers hitched to our vehicles. Then the trailers are so heavy they were likely to sink in any mud too.

“At the moment we have 200 FloodSax at our central emergency store in Bungay 15 miles from Norwich and another 40 or so spread throughout the counties but if each of our volunteers had a box of 20 in the back it means we could respond to any calls for flooding help incredibly quickly.

“The FloodSax are also so easy to energise in water. We did an exercise day to test them out and even my three-year-old granddaughter could do it.”

Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response is part of a national network of just over 30 groups covering the UK and has 3,000 members.

Rob said: “Our remit is to preserve and protect human life and property by providing equipment, vehicles and other resources to offer support in adverse conditions.

“Some days we can be transporting critical NHS staff or medical supplies in the snow or maybe helping transport firefighters to coastal flooding areas. Other days you might find us in the thick of remote forests keeping an eye on charity fundraisers to make sure they’re safe or patrolling an event with a paramedic in the passenger seat, ready to respond to any emergency. More commonly you’ll see us providing assistance to Lowland Search and Rescue by transporting search teams or dog teams.

“And when things go wrong you may also find us in the middle of a muddy field helping to recover vehicles after a heavy downpour during a summer fete.”

For more on Norfolk and Suffolk 4x4 Response go to https://norfolkandsuffolk4x4response.co.uk/ and to find out more about FloodSax alternative sandbags go to https://www.floodsax.co.uk/