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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Council staff offer flooding help | Council staff offer flooding help |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Flood hit householders have been getting advice from local authority staff, after a month's rain fell on parts of Scotland in a single day. | Flood hit householders have been getting advice from local authority staff, after a month's rain fell on parts of Scotland in a single day. |
| Moray Council officials were "out in force" in Elgin and Fochabers, two of the areas worst affected by the deluge. | Moray Council officials were "out in force" in Elgin and Fochabers, two of the areas worst affected by the deluge. |
| Sewage contamination is also being dealt with "as a matter of priority", the local authority said. | Sewage contamination is also being dealt with "as a matter of priority", the local authority said. |
| The move came as a the clean-up continued after Friday's torrential rain brought devastation to the area. | The move came as a the clean-up continued after Friday's torrential rain brought devastation to the area. |
| A number of people had to leave their homes after the rivers Lossie and Spey broke their banks. | A number of people had to leave their homes after the rivers Lossie and Spey broke their banks. |
| By Saturday evening, 44 households and 98 people, including private home owners, were in temporary accommodation. | By Saturday evening, 44 households and 98 people, including private home owners, were in temporary accommodation. |
| A statement released by the council said staff were on hand around the towns to talk to those affected, offer advice, and help with the clean-up on Sunday. | A statement released by the council said staff were on hand around the towns to talk to those affected, offer advice, and help with the clean-up on Sunday. |
| The statement said: "The council will be dealing with sewage contamination in a number of areas where it has been identified as a potential environmental issue. | The statement said: "The council will be dealing with sewage contamination in a number of areas where it has been identified as a potential environmental issue. |
| Part of a bridge was washed away in the Burnbank area of Fochabers | Part of a bridge was washed away in the Burnbank area of Fochabers |
| "Contamination will be treated and sprayed as a matter of priority." | |
| It added that the council's investment in floodguards has proved to be largely effective and had limited the damage to affected properties. | It added that the council's investment in floodguards has proved to be largely effective and had limited the damage to affected properties. |
| A spokesman said the £500,000 investment in 2003 had "paid for itself many times over". | A spokesman said the £500,000 investment in 2003 had "paid for itself many times over". |
| Environment agency Sepa had five flood watches in place for Scotland on Saturday, but on Sunday there were no flood watches or flood warnings in place. | Environment agency Sepa had five flood watches in place for Scotland on Saturday, but on Sunday there were no flood watches or flood warnings in place. |
| Grampian Police also confirmed on Sunday that all main roads within Moray were now open. | Grampian Police also confirmed on Sunday that all main roads within Moray were now open. |
| Some minor roads remain closed due to large amounts of surface water. | Some minor roads remain closed due to large amounts of surface water. |
| A spokesman said: "Drivers are reminded to drive with care due to residue left on the roads from the floods." | A spokesman said: "Drivers are reminded to drive with care due to residue left on the roads from the floods." |
| 'Traumatic time' | |
| Scottish Environment Secretary and Moray MSP Richard Lochhead, and his SNP colleague Angus Robertson MP, were visiting flood-hit areas on Sunday. | |
| Mr Lochhead said: "I warmly commend the heroic efforts of emergency services personnel, council officials and staff from the utility companies who are working flat out to cope with the aftermath. | |
| "I am also pleased that the council has now taken to steps to set up information points in the communities affected to ensure that the necessary advice and guidance is available to victims. | |
| "Anxious householders must be able to easily access answers to their many questions at this traumatic time." | |
| Mr Robertson added: "The destruction caused by the flooding is simply enormous and the families and individuals affected by this, many of whom have been flooded before, will be having an extremely distressing time. | |
| "The efforts to get help and advice to people are now in full swing and I will be speaking to many of those affected in the coming days and weeks." |