At the Dartford Tunnel, the Army was now working closely with the London Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service, the Police and a number of Undertakers, under the control of the Coroner’s Office. The task facing them all was immense. Both tunnels being full of water, it seemed that the pumps were making very little impression. Requests were despatched for more powerful pumps and the troops on the ground were reassured that various organisations from the mining industry and elsewhere were responding with immediate effect.
The first vehicles were already being extracted from the tunnels. As soon as one vehicle was disentangled and cut free, it was pulled away from the tunnel entrance and powerful cutting equipment used to demolish it on site. This was done to extract the bodies as quickly as possible and these were immediately identified if that was possible, before being taken away in an ambulance to a local mortuary. Very soon, as the numbers of the dead continued to increase rapidly, it became apparent that bodies would have to be taken some distance. It is extraordinary to note that, in the event, mortuaries as far away as South Wales and County Durham were pressed into service, alongside cold stores and warehouses as well as refrigeration plants. The police were keeping the records of all the vehicles and identified bodies.
As soon as practicable, the dismembered vehicles were removed from the slip roads, to be stored elsewhere.
At Dartford, this work was continuing at both the north and the south ends of the tunnels. Very soon, similar teams were in place at Blackwall and Rotherhithe, as well as the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.
Transport for London was now facing the appalling task of accessing the flooded stations and tunnels. The logistics of removing the hundreds of thousands of bodies, after identification wherever was possible, were already exercising the minds of both the senior management and the rescue teams on the ground. With the exception of the Victoria and Jubilee lines, in every station in the city and the West End, there were dead bodies in the stairwells, the foot tunnels, on the platforms and on the tracks. Some were obviously crushed to death by the sheer weight of other bodies, some electrocuted where they had fallen or been pushed off the platforms and onto the tracks, many were drowned and still others were rendered almost unrecognisable after being hit by the trains as they were swept by the pressurised water out of the tunnels, off the tracks and onto the platforms.
The army was coordinating the removal of people from various places where they had congregated during the flood. Many had gathered together in stations, open parks, housing estates and in the upper floors of tower blocks. They were all taken to processing centres on either side of the river. Here they were given a medical check, their details were recorded and, if they had no home to return to, temporary accommodation was arranged. Such accommodation was rapidly becoming difficult to find within the London area, with the numbers of homeless growing very rapidly. Early decisions were made to transfer people to holiday camps, large hotels, and disused services’ camps. As far as possible, families were kept together but, inevitably, there was considerable confusion, made worse by officials who were working without proper direct training or accurate information.
Reports and messages between the Emergency Services and Downing Street were also increasing rapidly as Friday afternoon slowly descended into Friday evening. The sun sank in the clear winter sky, giving way to the dusk of early evening. Although the day had been surprisingly warm, the coming night would be cold and frosty.
Just as the terrible and difficult work was now assisted at the entrances to the tunnels with temporary flood lights, so the activity in Government continued unabated. Ministers snatched sleep wherever they could, but major decisions still had to be made. The Prime Minister made an early contact with the Local Government Association in the old Transport House at Smith Square. All County, Metropolitan and Borough Councils were asked to offer whatever services they could bring so that order and control could assist with the overwhelming tasks facing the teams operating on the ground.
Teams of volunteers were arriving in many parts of the flooded areas asking how they could assist. At first, they appeared to be more of a hindrance than a help, as no one seemed to be in a position nor had the knowledge as to how to deploy them, because no one on the ground really knew how bad the overall situation was. However, as information slowly began to emerge throughout the day, the army was able to take control of these volunteers and they began to be directed to those areas where they could be the most effective.
Information also began to emerge about the devastation in Holland and northern Europe. The French and Belgian coastlines and the Danish and German coastal areas were all inundated, but not to the same degree of intensity or catastrophic damage as in Holland.
The Environment Agency had produced, many years before, predictive maps of potential flooded areas of the River Thames, should the Thames Barrier fail. These were now updated in the form of a report and presented to the Prime Minister at four o’clock. In addition, photographs were included of the devastated housing estates, some collapsed tower blocks and the catastrophic condition of the various road and pedestrian tunnels. Some early proposals in respect of renovation and reconstruction were added, with very broad indications as to cost, which already well exceeded one billion pounds and the report’s author indicated that the final cost was expected to exceed that figure many times over.
As soon as he read this latest report, the Prime Minister called a further Cabinet Meeting, which would be followed by a COBRA meeting. In Cabinet, he distributed photocopies of the Environment Agency report. As soon as his colleagues had read and assimilated the contents, he started asking questions.
“How is the liaison between the Army and the Police and other Emergency Services?”
“After a few initial hiccups, it is working very well,” the Armed Forces Minister replied. “I am advised that overall command lies with the Ministry of Defence and direct lines of communication between Whitehall and Scotland Yard have been organised. Basically, the Police are centralising all the work of the civilian Emergency Services and together they are bringing in the specialised pumping and extraction equipment. This is being supplied by the private sector, where Local Authorities are unable to assist.”
“Where are the displaced people being housed?” The Prime Minister looked at the Home Secretary.
“After they have been processed in the central processing areas, they are given a medical check and are then despatched to specific and logged addresses. All names, original home addresses and temporary addresses are being recorded and cross referenced with Local Authority records. Although my teams are confident that every person who passes through a processing centre will be recorded, we are conscious that the records cannot expect to be one hundred percent accurate. We have already come across a number of anomalies where it appears that illegal immigrants have been found. These people are being detained in separate accommodation. The major problem will be in uniting families whose members were spread over London when the flood occurred.” The Home Secretary paused.
“And how are they to be fed?” the Prime Minister asked.
"We are working closely with the Army and the Police to get all the major supermarkets cleared of all contaminated stock as quickly as possible. The supermarket chains have all supported our proposals that their stores should be cleared, cleaned and restocked as quickly as possible. It is already recognised that cleaning products will be needed in considerably increased quantities. In addition, increased amounts of basic staple foods will be available in all major outlets by Sunday morning and we also recognise that there will be considerable pressure on the public throughout Saturday.
“In order to keep public order, the Police have cancelled all leave and officers will be on the streets to assist and direct the people.”
The Prime Minister finally turned to the Chancellor. “And how is the government to pay for all this?”
"Fortunately, Prime Minister, some of the immediate costs will be covered by insuran
ce, but those funds will not be made available until the Insurance Companies have had an opportunity to assess the damage, the causes of that damage and whether there were any contributing factors by the insured. This will all be done in the future and I have asked all such companies to speed up their processes as much as possible, to assist in the general programme of regeneration.
"More importantly, as you will already know, I have already been in discussion with certain bankers in the city who have offered a specific relief fund, which is already totalling as much as £100 billion. A new company has been created specifically to organise this fund and to liaise directly with the Treasury. It has been put to me that the Government itself will be the first beneficiary of this fund as it will need hard cash to assist in the removal of the damaged vehicles, the rubble from collapsed buildings, making the roads safe, assisting the payment of the Emergency Services and the Army and so on.
“Fiscally, this Government has been running a very tight economic ship and this catastrophe cannot possibly be addressed by Government finance alone. Although I appreciate that there will be a need to control this degree of outside finance very carefully, I am willing to proceed with it in order to assist those who are wanting to move forward rapidly in the reconstruction programme.”
“This fund isn’t going to come back to haunt us, is it?” The Prime Minister voiced the question that was in the minds of the other cabinet members present.
"I have just returned from an initial meeting with Le Grove Investments. This is a small, well respected investment bank with excellent contacts through the financial industry both here and overseas. Mr Varley, with whom I have been speaking, has already shown me some of the details with regard to the backers of the first £100 billion.
“The new company will be working singularly and specifically in administering the fund whilst liaising with the Treasury. At this stage, the only records I have seen will cover the amounts invested and the amounts distributed. In the current ethos of getting things moving, I am more minded to make the capital available and, in due course, to tighten up the necessary and appropriate regulatory requirements. We are in discussion with regard to the interest payable on the funds and how the exact details will work. Their new offices will be in place on Monday morning with all the necessary communication links set up and working. I am advised that the necessary personnel has already been engaged.”
This statement was met with a stunned silence, each cabinet member wondering how their somewhat dour Chancellor could have achieved so much in such a short time.
“Prime Minister, by way of a personal explanation, I met Mr Varley at the Financial Symposium on Thursday morning.” He stopped and looked at his notes. “Yes indeed. It’s somewhat surprising to note that it was only yesterday morning.” He shook his head. "So much has happened since then.
“Anyway, Mr Varley opened the Symposium and, obviously, I met him then for the first time. He must have recalled our meeting before setting up this fund and telephoning my office. This proposal could and should be an excellent example of Westminster and the city working closely together for the benefit of the people overall.”
“I completely agree.” The Prime Minister echoed his Chancellor. “This is just the type of defining decision to which I referred earlier this morning.”
After leaving Scotland Yard, Andy was forced to drive David and Jackie via a most circuitous route to get back to Richmond. With all the bridges over the River Thames now closed with both the Army and the Police manning the road blocks, Andy had to drive as far west as Brentford, before he could turn south and work his way down to Walton-on-Thames where he crossed the river over Walton Bridge. Once on the south side it was a simple task to drive up through Kingston and then on to Richmond. They arrived home after four o’clock and it was already dark.
During the journey, Jackie spoke with her mother to assure her that her father was safe and well but would be staying in London while the emergency continued. David also spoke briefly with his mother and was similarly comforting with regard to his father. When they arrived at David’s home, much to their surprise, they saw that the small drive to the house already had two cars parked in it.
“I wonder what’s going on,” commented David as the cab approached the house.
“That’s my mum’s car,” Jackie replied, pointing at a light blue Corsa.
“She must have come round to take you home.”
“Suppose.” Jackie took hold of David’s hand and squeezed it. “David, thanks for everything. I know we’ve seen some horrible things but, in a funny way, I’m really glad you called me yesterday. It was a lot more interesting than just revision.”
“You’ve been brilliant!” he replied quietly. “There’s no way I could have got those people out of the bus without you. Come on, we’d better go in.”
As they got out of the taxi, David’s mother came down the drive to the road.
“I was beginning to wonder where you’d all got to,” she said. “Then I heard that all the bridges have been closed from the city all the way to Kingston. Did you have to come over Hampton Court Bridge?”
“No, ma’am,” Andy replied. “That’s closed as well. We’ve been all the way to Walton.”
“That is a long way round. Please come in. I expect you’ll all want a cup of tea. Hello, Jackie. Your mum’s here. Oh, and, David, Mr Smith is here from school.”
“What does he want?”
“He mentioned that he volunteered to come to see you, when the headmaster was asking him about your non-attendance this morning.”
“Am I in trouble?” David asked as he and Jackie went through the front door into the hall.
“No more than you should be, skipping off school, like that,” his mother replied.
They went into the dining room, where Annabel Bleasdale was chatting with Mr Smith. They both looked up as the young people entered the room.
“Jackie, are you all right?”
“Yes, Mum.”
“But you’ve been through such a traumatic experience.”
“Not really. We’ve only done what anybody would have done in the same circumstances.”
“And you, David! What on earth did you think you would achieve by persuading Jackie to leave college early in such dangerous circumstances?” Annabel Bleasdale’s voice began to rise as she struggled with her emotions.
“Oh! Just a second, Mrs Bleasdale,” Mr Smith intervened, in his best school masterly and reassuring manner. “As I understand things, when David and Jackie caught the train from Richmond, there had been no official warnings issued that travelling to London could be dangerous. All that happened later.”
“Are you condoning their behaviour?”
“Not at all. I’m just trying to keep matters in perspective.”
“Well. That’s easy for you to say. You aren’t a parent.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I am.” Mr Smith walked across the room to David. “And, if you’ll excuse me, I do have some questions to ask David.”
He took David’s arm and steered him out of the dining room and into the sitting room across the hall, muttering to himself, “I really don’t want to be in there if she’s going to lose control.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t quite catch that.”
“It isn’t of any consequence,” Mr Smith replied. “David, you already realise that cutting school yesterday is bound to have some repercussions and I am here, this evening, to give you the official verbal warning. I volunteered to do this because, in some way I feel partly responsible. Nevertheless, you must realise that, had you sought the school’s permission to travel up to London, this would have been refused on two grounds. Firstly, you have your exams in three months and secondly there is the overriding matter of safety.”
“Excuse me, sir,” David interrupted.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Well, sir! I think you should know that I contacted Jackie on the spur of the moment. I knew that the weather was c
reating a specific and possibly unique situation. Jackie is fully aware of my interest in such things and agreed to come with me. But the overall responsibility for the trip is completely mine.”
“It’s good of you to say that, David. And because you have immediately and voluntarily taken the blame, I will ensure that this will go a long way to mitigate the level of punishment that will subsequently be decided.”
A silence now fell between them. After a few seconds, David looked up to see his teacher closely looking at him. It was almost as though he was being scrutinised in a completely different manner than ever before. In fact, Mr Smith was reaching the conclusion that David had changed. He was no longer the polite, bright schoolboy, struggling with that awkwardness of changing from teenager into adult. He realised that the last 36 hours themselves had taken this intelligent pupil through that process and produced a young adult, confident in himself and in his surroundings. No longer would David suffer fools quietly. Mr Smith now regarded him in the realisation that David was now his equal and, although he might not quite realise it just yet, he would expect to be treated as such.
“Can we sit down, David?”
“Of course, sir.”
“For my own part, I am much more interested in knowing what occurred when you were both in Town. Can you tell me in your own words where you were, what you saw and what you did next?”
David took a deep breath. After gathering his thoughts, he related everything he had seen and observed as soon as he and Jackie had arrived at Waterloo Station. Mr Smith was not particularly interested in the state of the crowds that had been running across Waterloo Bridge, as though their lives depended on it. Nor, indeed, did David consider it important to describe the rather more intimate details immediately following the recovery of WPC Drury’s briefcase. It became more obvious that Mr Smith’s primary interest lay in the state of the weather and the massive surge of water up the river Thames. When David finished with the disappearance of the Bulgarian teenagers earlier that morning, Mr Smith decided to intervene.
Thursday Page 43
