Shepway DC sprang into action on Saturday after an earthquake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, struck Folkestone. Chief executive, Alistair Stewart, revealed the civic offices were open by 8.30am, just 10 minutes after the earthquake struck on Saturday morning, and an emergency centre was up and running by 9.30am. Hundreds of homes were damaged by the tremor, which was also felt as far away as East Sussex. Mr Stewart said that by Monday morning, 805 homes had been registered with the council as being damaged, and building control officers had worked throughout the weekend to check all the properties. ‘We have been calling in building control officers from across the country to come and assist,' said Mr Stewart. ‘There has been a great response. ‘We have worked closely with the Salvation Army which ran a rest centre, and we worked with social services to make sure people were being fed. The community has been brilliant,' he added. ‘People have not put us in a difficult position. They have given us time to put the right things in place.'
