PENARTH RNLI members were among the volunteers who assisted in evacuating people from their flooded homes in St Asaph, North Wales, recently.

In total 41 members of the public were rescued, along with two dogs, at the end of November.

The Flood Rescue Team, who are specially trained in fast flowing water, spent nearly 12 hours on the flooded streets on November 27 and were on standby throughout the night should their assistance be required.

Among the team were Penarthians Jason Dunlop and Jen Payne, who was taking part in her first flood rescue deployment.

Jason, part of the Penarth flood rescue team which also went to Gloucester in 2007, said the nature of flood conditions made it a different challenge to typical RNLI missions.

“The missions typically involve extreme and difficult conditions, but we have a reputation of providing flood team members from Penarth and it is exciting and rewarding to be part of the team,” said Jason, an RNLI member of ten years.

In St Asaph the team operated two RNLI rescue boats, and rescued an elderly couple who were stranded in their vehicle on the outskirts of Llanrhaeadr - a situation the crew members are well prepared for.

Jason, chief executive of Cardiff University Student Union, said : “The additional flood rescue training involves swimming in floods, specialist boat driving and advanced vehicle training in extreme conditions.”

In total 28 RNLI lifeboat crew and staff travelled from across the country to work with the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service in November. The travelled from Rhyl, Conwy, Moelfre, Beaumaris, Criccieth, Aberdovey, Cardigan, Port Talbot, Aberystwyth, Angle, Porthcawl, the Mumbles and Penarth.

Matt Crofts, RNLI deputy divisional inspector and flood rescue team leader, commended the work of the charity’s volunteers.

“The RNLI Flood Rescue Team responded professionally and efficiently in extremely difficult conditions in St Asaph," he said.

“The Flood Rescue Team have worked and trained with other emergency services, especially the Fire and Rescue Team, on many occasions which helped the team provide an effective service.

“The volunteers did an incredible job and I would like to thank them on behalf of the charity for their invaluable work.”