Families devastated by flooding have criticised authorities who were “caught off guard” and have been slow to offer help.
More than 1,300 people had to be rescued in Greater Manchester after heavy rainfall on New Year’s Eve left them stranded in flooded properties.
Many parts of Lancashire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire were also badly hit.
Although the Met Office had issued an amber warning for rainfall in the North West, there was no named storm and no properties were evacuated in advance of the wet weather.
One MP told The i Paper “more needs to be done” to communicate with people at risk of weather events and more investment is needed in defence.
“People were definitely caught off guard, it came down so quick,” said Dawn Royds, who had to be rescued in a boat from her home in Platt Bridge, Wigan, on New Year’s Day.
Ms Royds and her husband Phil had hosted a New Year’s Eve party for three of her daughters and nine grandchildren and went to bed none the wiser that her property was at risk.
The couple were awoken at around 9am the next day by a firefighter shouting outside.
Families went to bed unawares their homes were at risk of flooding (Photo: iNews)When Ms Royds, 59, saw the flooding in her home she said she simply “went back upstairs and cried, it was just disbelief.”
She added: “This is my home, it’s my safe space, I don’t go out because of my arthritis, I fall a lot.”
Many families were left distraught as they returned to their homes for the first time on Thursday.
As one mum pushed open her front door she burst into tears as her child’s Christmas presents spilled out, having floated there from the living room. All were ruined.
At Ms Royds’ property, where she had lived from more than 20 years, the flood water has ruined furniture, her wheelchair and mobility scooter and a freezer full of food.
But it’s the little things that cause the most heartbreak.
“My aunt died in this house, I cared for her, this Japanese furniture is hers, because it’s made of wood it will be ruined,” she said.
“There were some family photos in a cupboard. That’s what’s upset me the most, everything else is replaceable.”
At the nearby Mini Market shop, owner Mohamed Ahmad and his daughter Shewa were clearing out ruined stock.
Mr Ahmad said he realised something was wrong when he woke up yesterday and he was unable to access his shop’s cameras via his phone.
“So I got in my car and came here and saw this,” he said, pointing to the wreckage which he estimated at several thousand pounds.
“It was so tragic, we were so worried about the shop, we tried to get in but they said it’s not safe,” said Shewa.
“Everything was so muddy, we had to start getting stuff out straight away. It’s so bad.”
The Mini Market in Platt Bridge where thousands of pounds in stock was ruined (Photo: iNews)The family said they have never experienced such flooding before and wished they had been able to do more to reduce the damage.
“We didnt think of putting barriers up because this has never happened before,” said Shewa.
“We didn’t get any warnings, we just thought it was going to be some heavy rain and that’s it.
“There were so many lives at risk. It’s a tragedy.”
Several homeowners on Templeton Road, where all the properties were flooded, told The i Paper they have not been offered emergency accommodation and say authorities have offered little help.
A nearby McDonald’s has been offering shelter and free food but Mrs Royds said she has paid more than £700 to stay in an Airbnb.
“They shirk responsibility, it’s always everbody else’s fault, because we’re the little people we havent got the funds…they get away with it,” Mrs Royds said.
“All we want is accountability and for them to do something about it so it doesn’t happen again.
“There should be warnings but this place is forgotten.
“Nobody wants to be in this position.”
Rise in deaths 'likely' as temperatures plunge and UK braces for snow
Read MoreLabour MP for Makerfield Josh Simons was on the ground in Platt Bridge on New Year’s Day and helped get a generator to ensure the McDonald’s was able to help residents.
He has also set up a fundraising page to help residents affected.
Mr Simons held a meeting with Environment Agency, United Utilities and Wigan Council about flooding problems only a few weeks ago.
He backed calls from residents to get to the bottom of what happened.
“Locally, people and organisations did everything possible to support residents affected, ensure everyone was safe and provide food, water, and warmth to those who needed it,” he said.
“Clearly, more needs to be done to communicate before these weather events and to build the defences required to protect people from them.
“I am meeting national agencies in the coming hours and days to get a full picture of what assessments were done in the hours before this event, who they were communicated to, and what defences we need to protect our community better in the future.
“The more I learned about the history of this problem, the more I shared residents’ anger.
“We now need a bigger review to understand what caused the flooding and what needs to be done to build flood defences going forward – crucially, and what stands in the way of getting this work done.
“My constituents do not deserve to sit at home frightened every time there is heavy rain.”
Paul Barton, director for environment at Wigan Council, said: “River and brook water levels are now returning to normal and all flood alerts for Wigan Borough are now removed, so we are moving into the recovery phase of our response.
“We are continuing to work closely with our partners, and colleagues from across the council have been mobilised to respond to the incident, supporting with accommodation, the clean-up and access to benefits for those most affected.
“To help with the clean-up, skips to remove water-damaged belongings and rubbish will be provided by the council and will visit affected areas.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Flooding victims’ anger as MP admits better warnings and defences needed )
Also on site :
- The Diet That Helped a ’90s Pop Star Reclaim His Life
- Hollywood Hunk, 27, Is Unrecognizable After Dramatic Transformation
- Aid ship aiming to break Israel’s siege of Gaza sets sail from Italy