Living close to the river as we do we take a keen interest in the amount of rain that falls up-country and of course any flood warnings there happen to be. If there is a significant risk of flooding in our area we are notified by telephone ,which would,in theory give us time to grab the cats and move upstairs.
Like many riversiders we have a plan which would be put in to action if a flood should occur, and we make sure that all the elements of it are well rehearsed and all necessary equipment in place.
We have fresh bottled water at the ready should our supply become contaminated and the means to make hot drinks and simple cooking if the power fails. First aid kits both upstairs and down and a good supply of water purifying tablets are kept well stocked and tea coffee milk and sugar are always to be found upstairs as well as down.
Tins of beans,soups,bacon etc. are kept handy for grabbing at a moments notice and a couple of wind up radios together with torches,candles, hurricane lamps and so forth are kept in an upstairs cupboard.
Finally should the worst happen and we have to evacuate the house our loft contains a pair of large inflatable dingies,oars and a foot pump. Nothing is left to chance.
Of course the best laid plans can go astray and you can bet your boots that I have forgotten some vital piece of apparatus,time will tell.
To my mind it is the aftermath of a flood which is the worst,the months of drying out , the cleaning and the redecorating,but to have such a thing happen at this time of the year is heartbreaking.
The valley below my childhood home flooded frequently,usually the villagers took it their stride until one year melt water from the hills caused a small dam at a local fish farm to burst and the village was inundated in minutes. There was no warning, no chance to save anything from the water. It was three days before Christmas and over half the village was under water. The old part of the village as well as the new were equally affected,it was the first time they had any common ground between them.
It was heartbreaking to see the destruction ,Christmas trees, gifts and decorations floating in filthy water,ruined. The villagers set to and cleared our the local pub, any one with a solid fuel cooker was helped back to normal in order that they could cook for those who had no means of doing so.
Word spread and local farmers donated chickens and turkeys and outlying villages took up a collection in our nearest market town and bought presents for every child in the village.
It took months for the village to recover from its worst ever flood and there were hard time for many before all the houses were habitable again,yet that Christmas was remembered by all as a good time. Years later those who were children at the time remembered it fondly and afterwards the bonds of friendship were closer than ever for the dreadful events forge friendships between the old and the new village,which remain strong to this day.
I hope with my whole heart for a warm dry Christmas for everyone, and safety and friendship for any who are unfortunate this year. Night night.
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