OFFICERS at West Devon Borough Council have admitted they are unable to cope with emergency situations after repeated severe weather incidents.
The council's environment department has spent more than 400 hours responding to emergencies in Tavistock, North Tawton, Lifton, Horrabridge, Sticklepath and South Zeal in the last 12 months.
Nick Payne, head of environmental services, told councillors last week that traditionally, flooding incidents would have been dealt with by the technical department, which was disbanded in 1990.
Mr Payne said: 'It is only in recent years that flooding has really come to the fore.
'We have got away with it for a long time on the cheap — the expectations of the public are a lot greater these days in helping them overcome these sorts of problems.'
He said council officers were 'on the back foot' and often criticised when dealing with emergency flood situations.
'We don't believe maintaining the status quo is acceptable any more,' he said, asking members to support an investigation into ways of improving the situation.
Cllr Ted Sherrell said he 'strongly supported' Mr Payne.
'I think the experience of the last year or two is we can't go on as we are,' he said.
Cllr Caroline Keane said: 'We are talking about the safety of people and their homes — we need to be better organised.'
And Cllr Nicholas Waterhouse said the true incidence of flooding was far higher than the major incidents reported to the borough council.
The committee agreed to investigate ways the services provided by the authority could be improved, including partnership with neighbouring boroughs and Devon County Highways.