What action was taken before and after the floods? The flash floods in Inverness called for action to be taken by a number of organisations. Some action was needed immediately while other action was required long after the flood water disappeared. The information below outlines the actions taken by different organisations. SEPA - Immediate Action Collected data from several river gauging stations around Inverness. SEPA - Long Term Action To liaise with the Local Authority to help prepare a flood plan for three areas in the South East of Inverness which were badly flooded in the September 2002 floods. Local Authority - Immediate Action Arranged for several residents to be moved to temporary accommodation including empty council houses and caravans. Cleared debris from roads and blocked culverts. Conducted detailed inspections of the areas affected by flooding and carried out a programme of remedial works to clear culverts and watercourses and clean out gullies. Increased the level of maintenance on roadside ditches to improve roadside drainage. Filled sandbags to be made available to the public on request. Where the elderly and housebound were affected, the sandbags were delivered. Local Authority - Long Term Action Consultants have been engaged to design schemes in the areas which were particularly badly affected by the exceptional flooding, namely in South West Inverness and in Westhill, Culloden and Smithton. The total estimated cost of these major works is in the order of £6-8 million. Publish draft flood orders for the Westhill, Culloden and Smithton catchments when a cost-effective scheme is developed. Planning policy and plan adequate provision of drainage at new developments. Assess the extent of subsidence and deformation of roads due to material wash out. Produce a Biennial Report containing information on all watercourses with potential for flooding, which could impact on property. Increase the level of maintenance on roadside ditches to improve roadside drainage. Emergency Services - Immediate Action RNLI and Coast Guard Fourteen members of the RNLI and the coastguard used dinghies to rescue more than 200 residents and staff of a city centre hotel. Police Set up an incident room involving the coastguard, fire brigade, ambulance, local authority and trunks authority. Helped move people from the Culloden and Hilton areas of Inverness. Closed off several roads and organised detour routes. Recovered vehicles abandoned in flood water. Fire Brigade Involved in a number of rescue operations, carrying old and young folk out of flooded houses to higher ground. Assisted the coastguard in evacuating a large number of guests from a flooded hotel. Attempted to pump out houses but, due to the nature of the floods the water was re-entering the houses as quickly as it was being pumped out. Water Authorities Warned people about using water from one of their water treatment plants as there was a possibility that the water could have become contaminated.