Flood case study - Rotherham
Catcliffe was one of the worst hit residential areas of Rotherham. Whiston, Laughton Common and Dinnington were effected. Throughout Rotherham, homes and businesses lost power as this was switched off in case the Ulley Reservoir burst its banks. In the town centre, pubs, shops and the museum were all effected by 4 feet of water.
One family owned furniture company not only lost the whole of the stock from the shop but also the warehouse; over 20 suites waiting to be delivered had to be scrapped after becoming contaminated.
Miss H was looking forward to her wedding on the 15th September and starting life with her husband as a newly married couple in Catcliffe.
However the fairytale was not to be, as 3 ft of floodwater swept through their house on the 25th June. Miss H was forced to move into temporary accommodation in Sheffield, adding a further 40 miles a day onto her journey to work.
Along with many others Miss H found that she was under-insured and so not all of the items that were lost were covered. Not only did all the furniture and white goods have to be replaced - they also lost clothing and shoes which the insurance company will not pay for.
Not all the residents in Catcliffe were so lucky, when I drove through on Christmas day their were still many people living on their drives in touring caravans. Work could carry on until June 2008, making it one full year of misery for some families.
Mr P stated that It's always in the back of your mind that this could happen again and we hope that the council and the environment agency are giving some real though to this.
When the water came in it just kept getting higher and higher until it reached about 18in from our living room ceiling.
Some householders say their properties are now unsaleable with estate agents turning down requests to put their homes on the market.