One of the tasks from the Wild Words course I did was to write about flooding. In York, in 2015, there were awful floods which affected many people and areas that aren’t usually flooded. York does flood regularly but this was the worst I’ve seen in.
Boxing Day Floods, York
Source: York Flood Inquiry
December 2015
wettest month
since records began
Ouse and Foss catchment
saturated
Boxing Day:
unprecedented situation on the Foss
weekend Bank Holiday
middle of Christmas
challenge escalates
27th BT exchange
flooded
loss of landlines internet
mobile phones
no electronic communication
misinformation can take hold
four hundred and fifty three
residential properties
one hundred and seventy four
businesses
flooded
remarkable efforts
generosity community spirit
assistance offered quickly
unstintingly. Donations
local, national
international
spontaneous volunteers
‘unwavering response from responders’
praised for dedication and contribution
thirteen thousand sandbags
builders’ merchants very helpful
opened depots on request
voluntary sector:
evacuation-meals-shelter-warmth-assisting with clean up-warehousing and distributing donated goods-practical emotional recovery support
disruption
evacuated
no warning
upheaval
traumatic
‘Recovery from flooding does not simply end
when people move back into their homes.’
problems with insurance claims
managing builders
living in a state of disrepair
long-term issues identified:
respiratory problems made worse- mental health problems exacerbated-disruption to home-lost personal possessions-strain of moving in with family-strain of being separated from family-breakdown of relationships-financial pressures-lost ability to earn-went out of business
problems do not recede as quickly as water
York will flood again
an inevitability
‘York as a community would benefit from becoming more resilient
and better prepared for an emergency situation.’