After the Winter Floods

The Floods of December '13, January, February and March '14 seemed never ending.  The media extensively covered the relentless weather that battered our country, and day-by-day we learned of the devastation that floods from both the sea and rivers brought with them.

We saw graphic images of homes wrecked over the Christmas and New Year period and deep floodwater covering vast swathes of Somerset for weeks on end, cutting off communities from the outside world and ruining the livelihoods of so many in the farming community.  

We watched as the Thames wreaked havoc in Egham, Wraysbsury and Datchet, and the Severn rising to record breaking heights in the Midlands.

To many people, the floods of the Winter of ‘13/14 are now nothing more than a memory and a conversation topic. I ask you to spare a few moments to think about what those homeowners are going through now – at the end of April. Flooding is not just about when the media and ministers visit.

Being flooded can wreck your daily life for at least 9 months whilst your home is being dried out and restored back to ‘normal’  I want to share with you a few of the photos I’ve been sent via Twitter from people who were flooded. These are photos of their homes right now and are from homes in Tonbridge and Somerset.

These people, and so many like them, still face months out of their homes, along with the misery and hardship that brings with it.

This is why I am so passionate about raising awareness of flood risk; to enable individuals and communities to plan, prepare and militate against it. In many cases, flooding can be prevented and in others, by adapting homes to be more resilient to flooding, the impact can be significantly reduced.

For further information visit www.knowyourfloodrisk.co.uk and download a free copy of the Homeowners Guide to Flood Resilience.

Mary Dhonau OBE

Chief Executive, Know Your Flood Risk Campaign

Follow Mary on twitter @floodmary

Follow the campaign KYFR @flooduk