Rachael Hamilton MSP has welcomed the reinstatement of important SEPA webpages that inform the public of water levels in Borders’ rivers.
On the 24th December 2020, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) confirmed that it was responding to a significant cyber-attack affecting its contact centre, internal systems, processes and communications.
Concerned constituents contacted Mrs Hamilton when they realised they could not access the vital information on water levels.
Following snow melt and heavy rainfall leading to flooding, especially in and around Newcastleton and Hawick, Mrs Hamilton wrote to SEPA to ask that they urgently restore this crucial public service.
In a parliamentary answer, Mrs Hamilton was given assurances that the website will be fully operational from the 5th March.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“I was concerned that the vital water level readings provided by these webpages was inaccessible due to the cyber-attack.
“Many of my constituents keep an eye on water levels via this website, because their properties are near rivers which are prone to flooding after heavy rainfall.
“It was worrying that they could not access this information, relying on flood warnings instead alone.
“I am glad that these webpages have now been reinstated, particularly in light of storms and flooding across the Borders”.