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| UK flooding: 'It felt as if my house had died' | UK flooding: 'It felt as if my house had died' |
| (9 days later) | |
| The days blur into one for pensioners Les and Sheila Seaton. They get up early, spend the day cleaning, scrubbing, organising and then collapse in front of the television on their borrowed armchairs. | The days blur into one for pensioners Les and Sheila Seaton. They get up early, spend the day cleaning, scrubbing, organising and then collapse in front of the television on their borrowed armchairs. |
| "We get to see the first few seconds of the programme, then we fall fast asleep," said Les, a sprightly 79-year-old. "We wake up an hour or two later and go to bed, then it starts over again next morning. It's been hard work but we'll get there in the end." | "We get to see the first few seconds of the programme, then we fall fast asleep," said Les, a sprightly 79-year-old. "We wake up an hour or two later and go to bed, then it starts over again next morning. It's been hard work but we'll get there in the end." |
| The Seatons are just one of the tens of thousands of people whose lives were turned upside down by floods in 2012. According to the Environment Agency more than 7,000 properties were inundated, almost 2,000 of them – like the Seatons' thatched cottage in Kennford, Devon – in the November deluge. | The Seatons are just one of the tens of thousands of people whose lives were turned upside down by floods in 2012. According to the Environment Agency more than 7,000 properties were inundated, almost 2,000 of them – like the Seatons' thatched cottage in Kennford, Devon – in the November deluge. |
| And there has been little respite in December with more rainfall on Friday, when flooded roads and rail lines hampered commuters. The Met Office forecast heavy rain overnight into Saturday morning. The rain was expected to arrive from the west, bringing a significant risk of yet more flooding, to northern Wales and north-west England. Further heavy rain is then forecast to fall on ground that is already wet on Sunday through into New Year's Eve morning. The Environment Agency had 76 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – in place on Friday and 179 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. | And there has been little respite in December with more rainfall on Friday, when flooded roads and rail lines hampered commuters. The Met Office forecast heavy rain overnight into Saturday morning. The rain was expected to arrive from the west, bringing a significant risk of yet more flooding, to northern Wales and north-west England. Further heavy rain is then forecast to fall on ground that is already wet on Sunday through into New Year's Eve morning. The Environment Agency had 76 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – in place on Friday and 179 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. |
| Kennford was one of the places that made the headlines last month. Newspaper reporters and film crews were there to describe how oily water poured into homes. Politicians arrived, including the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, to hear the stories and promise to try to help. | Kennford was one of the places that made the headlines last month. Newspaper reporters and film crews were there to describe how oily water poured into homes. Politicians arrived, including the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, to hear the stories and promise to try to help. |
| But afterwards the Seatons and others have to try to put their lives back together. "One moment you're on the news, the next you're back to normal and having to get on with it," said Sheila, 75. | But afterwards the Seatons and others have to try to put their lives back together. "One moment you're on the news, the next you're back to normal and having to get on with it," said Sheila, 75. |
| Their story is particularly poignant because they were not insured for flooding. "We've got cover for fire, which is good because of the thatch, but nothing for flooding," said Les. So they have not been able to move out while their cottage was decontaminated, cleaned and dried but have had to do it themselves with the help of family and friends. "Sheila has worked like a Trojan," said Les. "And people have been so good in helping out." | Their story is particularly poignant because they were not insured for flooding. "We've got cover for fire, which is good because of the thatch, but nothing for flooding," said Les. So they have not been able to move out while their cottage was decontaminated, cleaned and dried but have had to do it themselves with the help of family and friends. "Sheila has worked like a Trojan," said Les. "And people have been so good in helping out." |
| Post office owner and parish council chairman Howard Milton agreed that villagers had rallied around. Emergency rations were organised in the immediate aftermath of the floods; later a hot sit-down meal was held for those who had been affected at the Kenn Centre, the village hall. | Post office owner and parish council chairman Howard Milton agreed that villagers had rallied around. Emergency rations were organised in the immediate aftermath of the floods; later a hot sit-down meal was held for those who had been affected at the Kenn Centre, the village hall. |
| More than £25,000 has been donated by councils, organisations and individuals to a fund to help those affected in Kennford to get back on their feet. The idea is to hand out £200 to all of the 40 homes affected and then allocate the rest to those most in need on a case-by-case basis. | More than £25,000 has been donated by councils, organisations and individuals to a fund to help those affected in Kennford to get back on their feet. The idea is to hand out £200 to all of the 40 homes affected and then allocate the rest to those most in need on a case-by-case basis. |
| Milton said the flood could have changed the nature of the village for ever. Many people have had to leave their homes and some will be out for many months. "People have been cast to all four winds. Some who were in rented accommodation here might not come back at all. It's very quiet in some parts of the village now at night – it's become a bit of a ghost town." | Milton said the flood could have changed the nature of the village for ever. Many people have had to leave their homes and some will be out for many months. "People have been cast to all four winds. Some who were in rented accommodation here might not come back at all. It's very quiet in some parts of the village now at night – it's become a bit of a ghost town." |
| Some cope better than others. Nigel Howells, who was playing with his barn dance band in the Kenn Centre when his cob and stone cottage started to flood, remains upbeat. "I lost a car, a motorbike, there was a layer of mud everywhere but the community is strong. It's made my wife and I realise this is a good place to live." | Some cope better than others. Nigel Howells, who was playing with his barn dance band in the Kenn Centre when his cob and stone cottage started to flood, remains upbeat. "I lost a car, a motorbike, there was a layer of mud everywhere but the community is strong. It's made my wife and I realise this is a good place to live." |
| Older children at the Kenn Church of England primary school have come to terms with their experience by producing vivid reports of the flood as part of their literacy work. Eight-year-old Lily described it thus: "Children were carried out and some even had to either climb down from windows or wade through disgusting, filthy, sludgy water to get out (freezing!!!)." Ben, also eight, reported: "The water was slopy (sic) | Older children at the Kenn Church of England primary school have come to terms with their experience by producing vivid reports of the flood as part of their literacy work. Eight-year-old Lily described it thus: "Children were carried out and some even had to either climb down from windows or wade through disgusting, filthy, sludgy water to get out (freezing!!!)." Ben, also eight, reported: "The water was slopy (sic) |
| green … the water poored (sic) into lots of houses and smash lots of things. Lots of people worried if they will get inureance (sic). The other one is if it will happen again. The last one is will they be able to defend it if it does happen again." | green … the water poored (sic) into lots of houses and smash lots of things. Lots of people worried if they will get inureance (sic). The other one is if it will happen again. The last one is will they be able to defend it if it does happen again." |
| The Rev John Williams, of St Andrew's church in Kenn, said the festive period had been difficult for those displaced. "But I think people have drawn strength from each other and found they are not alone at times of need. People are anxious but the community is a very supportive one," he said. | The Rev John Williams, of St Andrew's church in Kenn, said the festive period had been difficult for those displaced. "But I think people have drawn strength from each other and found they are not alone at times of need. People are anxious but the community is a very supportive one," he said. |
| Theories abound as to why the village, which has not flooded badly since defences were built in the sixties, was so badly hit. Some think a farmer on the hills must have suddenly opened a sluice gate that was holding back gallons of water. Others believe the drains were blocked or there was a problem with water running off the nearby A38. | Theories abound as to why the village, which has not flooded badly since defences were built in the sixties, was so badly hit. Some think a farmer on the hills must have suddenly opened a sluice gate that was holding back gallons of water. Others believe the drains were blocked or there was a problem with water running off the nearby A38. |
| The Environment Agency is trying to work out why the river, usually no more than a stream, filled so quickly, and Devon county council has said it will be applying for money from central government to improve flood defences across the county, though no commitment has been made yet for Kennford. | The Environment Agency is trying to work out why the river, usually no more than a stream, filled so quickly, and Devon county council has said it will be applying for money from central government to improve flood defences across the county, though no commitment has been made yet for Kennford. |
| Kelvin Boot, who lives next door to the Seatons, said if the conclusion was that this was a one-in-40-year event he might "push somebody into the river". "That sort of conclusion is just meaningless." | Kelvin Boot, who lives next door to the Seatons, said if the conclusion was that this was a one-in-40-year event he might "push somebody into the river". "That sort of conclusion is just meaningless." |
| He has lived in his cottage for almost 30 years. The road outside floods from time to time and residents move their cars and pile sandbags at their doors but he has never had more than "half a teacup" of water in the house. It was very different on the night of the floods. "It took an hour to get to ankle-depth, then within 10 minutes it was up to our thighs." | He has lived in his cottage for almost 30 years. The road outside floods from time to time and residents move their cars and pile sandbags at their doors but he has never had more than "half a teacup" of water in the house. It was very different on the night of the floods. "It took an hour to get to ankle-depth, then within 10 minutes it was up to our thighs." |
| Boot describes some extraordinary sights. At one point three fine jets of water spurted out of a plug point; later a neighbour glided past the window on a paddle board. He is sad he did not get a photograph of that. | Boot describes some extraordinary sights. At one point three fine jets of water spurted out of a plug point; later a neighbour glided past the window on a paddle board. He is sad he did not get a photograph of that. |
| Boot said his nine-year-old son, Sebastian, "freaked out" but the rest of the family simply felt resigned. "Once it's over your knees you realise there's nothing you can do. We got what valuables we could upstairs and went to bed. But you don't sleep." | Boot said his nine-year-old son, Sebastian, "freaked out" but the rest of the family simply felt resigned. "Once it's over your knees you realise there's nothing you can do. We got what valuables we could upstairs and went to bed. But you don't sleep." |
| The waters receded almost as quickly as they had risen and the recovery began. "People were walking about as if they were in that disaster film The Day After Tomorrow," said Boot. "I think the place was in shock. For us, I think it felt a bit like a bereavement. Your emotions are really fragile and it doesn't take much to make you crack. It was as if your house had died but hopefully we can resurrect it." | The waters receded almost as quickly as they had risen and the recovery began. "People were walking about as if they were in that disaster film The Day After Tomorrow," said Boot. "I think the place was in shock. For us, I think it felt a bit like a bereavement. Your emotions are really fragile and it doesn't take much to make you crack. It was as if your house had died but hopefully we can resurrect it." |
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