AN ARMY of volunteers is being assembled to help out if York is again hit by flooding or any other emergency.

York CVS and City of York Council say they are creating a register of individuals and organisations who are willing and able to volunteer if there were any repeat of the Boxing Day disaster, when the Ouse and Foss rivers burst their banks and hundreds of homes and businesses were inundated.

A spokesman said the organisations had been working with the voluntary sector and business leaders to organise a safe and appropriate response to any future city-wide emergencies.

The council said it was contacting more than 300 flood volunteers and organisations, asking them to confirm details and the type of help they could give.

A CVS spokesman said it would identify appropriate skills and any gaps in location, in order to help coordinate effective future responses from volunteers.

He said CVS held an event in April to determine how responses to emergencies should be coordinated in future, with a steering group made up of senior staff from the voluntary sector, including the chief executives of York CVS, the Citizens Advice Bureau, York Community Furniture Store, Age UK and York Mind, and leaders from the business sector, represented by Neil Tappin, who were prepared to offer support such as transport and storage facilities, in the event of a disaster.

CVS chief executive Sarah Armstrong said there had been a huge response during the floods from individuals and organisations offering support through physical labour, donations and even offering their homes, adding: “We have made it a priority to organise any future responses in the event of an emergency, so that volunteers can have the maximum possible impact and work with statutory services in a safe way.”

Sally Burns, director of communities and neighbourhoods at the council said: “We are now updating records so that residents can indicate specific areas where they feel able to help, including administration, physical tasks, driving and giving advice. Assistance by volunteers can then be quickly matched to areas of need in the city. “

Executive member Nigel Ayre,said the planning would help build a strong team of volunteers across York, ready to step up to future challenges when needed.