Re: the flooding north of England

[MrsSocks]

Living in a small village that is now essentially an island having been cut off by water, I just want to say what amazing community spirit and support I have witnessed in the last few hours! People coming together and help eachother out in the most extreme of ways, businesses opening to offer overnight shelters, emergency services working tirelessly, and strangers offering to go above and beyond to help those in need. Thank goodness we can still have some faith in humanity

Hannah I don't think people are underplaying it as such more trying to reassure funny her dd won't drown and can charge her phone.

The station in Lancaster is running as normal today.

Oh small world lk.small community no doubt. At a time when he is probably at his most vulnerable he needs to make the most noise and his friends and family. Just when you don't feel up to the job.

The insurance company or social services must cough up. This man is already suffering by being out of his home for the best part of a year....he should NOT be made to suffer any more than necessary.

I feel really strongly about that. If we don't fight for the weakest in our society now who will fight for us when our turn comes.

I don't know whether this is post traumatic shock syndrome but I feel beside myself at the moment. The whole situation is so overwhelming.
I have a DH and friends and lovely neighbours in the same boat ( ironic as we needed a boat) but I feel so awful. My stomach is in a knot and I feel so weepy and full of dread.
How are we going to get out of this mess. My house looks like a Tsunami. I can't find the Christmas cards. I have one UGG boot. Where is the other one?
I just wish I could have an injection and wake up in 12 months. What has happened to my usual optimistic self?
When this situation is resolved one way or the other, I am going to become a climate change activist.
Just cried my eyes out. For goodness sake, stop it. I wish I could stop feeling anything, at least I am still alive.
I am also not in the YMCA in our local town. I just saw someone I know on TV, God knows what they are feeling. How awful to have to leave your home and stay at the YMCA.
This person has a beautiful home and showed me around his lovely new kitchen last year. It is too horrible.
I don't have much faith that the Government will give us anything to get us up and running again.

Oh you poor dear himh. I'm sure you right. I'm sure it is post traumatic stress and also uncertainty about the future. We've hardly scraped the surface of winter yet .

I can understand what you mean ....if only you could time travel to the future and escape the day to day drudgery of getting it all put right again.

When everything feels overwhelming it's so easy to have a rabbit trapped in the headlights feeling where Inertia takes over.

The plan is to break it down into bite size chunks. If it helps , write it down. A daily plan . Enough to see progress but not too much to make you feel like you're killing herself.

When I was in the middle of a war zone ( figuratively speaking) when the whole house was tipped upside down and I didn't know where to start I had a friend who came every Monday ( my husband had buggered off by this point) and each week she would give me a hand and each week I could measure the progress , until one day it was all done and it was a wonderful feeling. I hadn't ' lost ' lots of items as such but things were bagged in a hurry, covered in brick dust and red plaster. Everywhere was filthy. There was nowhere to sit for comfort and yes I can remember sitting and how.ing my eyes out.

I've just watched glenridding again on the news. A man who operates a digger was interviewed. He said the police had stopped them dredging and pulling the rocks and stones out of the swollen river because it was unsafe . The presenter said what did you think...the man parroted , the police said it was unsafe. Apparently a couple of hours later , the men climbed into the diggers and began dredging and the level of the river dropped.

I had tears in my eyes listening to that and when I repeated the story to my husband I had a lump in my throat. It must have brought back memories of those awful weeks I went through!

Just little baby steps himh. Days you can't face it. Leave it. Just hoping and praying the situation settles down.

Get people to come here and write their stories, update Facebook and so on. Dont be swept under the carpet. This wasn't your doing. You deserve all the help you can get.

Oh hole you poor thing. Thinking of you.

So pleased as dd phoned finally. Apparently she got wafted off to the Pennines (ie high ground) by a housemate to their parents' mansion so she's fine. Says electricity in Lancaster is on and off and some shops closed. The power station is at the bottom of her road. Claims she has no money to get home (usual excuse: its probably more fun in the Pennines) and sounded OK. Trying to persuade useless DH to go up there and bring her stuff back down for Christmas. He's not saying but he obviously thinks watching the telly down South is a better option for him. She's got exams next week which she may or may not pass but thank goodness she is warm and dry.

Sorry to hear about the ruin of lovely homes upthread especially this time of year especially oop north where it is cold.
and and for you and your family holeinmyheart and others. The main thing is to look after your health and well being. The home will get cleared up bit by bit eventually and be better than before.

Glad to hear she's fine funny I'd have a talk about keeping in touch then. She must realise you'd worry.

Fx this weekends rain misses Cumbria. BBC breakfast managing to discuss Cumbria now, good work from Tim Farron demanding Army assistance with the roads and bridges.
HIMH PTSD would be totally logically, life changing experience this weekend. Just wish I could be of help.

Thankyou for all the kind words.
I felt very sick this am and have a headache. I must try and pull myself together as it is hardly Syria is it? I am not the worse off by any means.
I thought I would cope well in a crisis BUT it just shows me, doesn't it ?
What a wet lettuce I have turned out to be.
Thanks everyone for your support.
It is the total weariness. I feel so devoid of energy.
My family are all right, my DH and DCs and friends are loving and kind. I have to stop wallowing in self pity. I am not starving and I know this horrible situation will get resolved.

I also know that the fight is still to come. Sorry to be so cynical but I just know that the governments' talk of compensation and help is just hot air.

No sign of our MP ( isn't that shocking) I was told he was busy with pre arranged meetings elsewhere, and no reply to my emails from the chief executive of our area either.

Last Saturday, even though the warnings had been given out by text on Friday, there wasn't a sandbag on site on Saturday night. Everything was done after the event. I have written to the Chief Executive to ask, what had been their plan?

The emergency services have worked hard since the disaster, no doubt, but it was too late. They are lovely individuals but they have no power to alter things.

I shall have my hands full helping mobilise our community to protest, and get the help we need.
Maybe something serious will be done now, instead of just sticking plasters over the holes.

I think you are doing yourself proud himh. You are dealing with a situation that about 90 per cent of us will never be up against....apart from ad odd water tank or so bursting in the lift, which we had and distressing as it was, it's a lot easier clearing up after clean water than the filth you are having to endure.

It's amazing you've found time and the energy to contact these no shows.. I hope you manage to get an army behind you. I'm sure you will. There sounds like there's a lot of angry people in the area. At least with the Internet you have the freedom to keep writing and publishing whereas in the newspapers it gradually slips down the page. As many people as possible must tell their stories. Don't let them off the hook. Name and shame your mp. He had a crisis in his constituency and was nowhere to be seen. Tosser!

As an area of outstanding beauty, look how much money the lake district makes to fill the governments coffers....and all off the backs of the people who live there and feed the tourist industry. It's your money. You are entitled to the use of it to keep your homes safe and invest in the area. You've only got to take a drive through the lakes, which is stunning but it doesn't take long to realise that there's danger lurking behind every crag and in every stream or fell unless it's maintained properly for when bad weather strikes.

You who live there are the guardians of the area and the whole country should be behind you and supporting you. ( I'm actually ashamed that this thread has had such little traffic over the space of a week. I've seen more traffic on a 'lighthearted' thread. ) it feels a bit like as long as its not in my back yard, well if we don't support one another it very soon could be and then we all get trampled underfoot.

How are conditions this morning himh? I was making a bed time drink about 11 pm last night when I heard the clattering of rain and hoped you weren't getting it too. Is the river at glendridding going down or is there just too much rain compounding the problem.

I saw that corbridge in Northumberland has also been badly hit.

You're doing great himh. Fwiw...things aren't Christmassy here either. I'm just to say out of my sick bed. No decorations up and our town ones are shite ;-)

And that should be loft not lift. I don't live in a mansion ;-)

How are you doing Mrs Socks? Are things improving where you are?

Sorry just seen you message funny. Finally caught up on some sleep after doing silly hours this week. See she's fine, so good.

Hannah Lancaster has been fine for the vast majority. The destruction to businesses and homes around the quay is horrible but we're in no way the same state as those in other places.

Town was accessible by the next day and since the second blackout the majority have had power since Monday apart from surge blips. Other than Sainsburys Lancaster which flooded all the other supermarkets have been open as normal on generators and schools were generally closed to preserve power, not because of damage.

It's horrendous for those who have lost homes and businesses but for the majority it has only been an inconvenience in Morecambe and Lancaster and to suggest otherwise is quite insulting to those who have lost so much.

I know The Bay is running a toys appeal - does anyone know if that's being opened up to flood affected children or is there a separate appeal for that? I'm struggling to find one but the kids I look after want to help and thought donating a present each is better for children?

dowser wanted to like your post to HIMH totally echo that but am not so eloquent.

holeintheheart it sounds like you need a rest under a nice warm duvet somewhere to gather your strength up. I think it amazing you are writing letters and looking after your family. Me I would hide under the duvet with a book and chocolate till the waters receded. Metaphorically of course.
Here are some more flowers

Thanks Doc Marten. I hope poor himh is ok. We are in n yorks today and the weather is just atrocious so I'm sure it won't be any better where you are. For such a little island like ours the differences in weather is unbelievable. It's 1 degree here and in Dorset where my friend is and where I was only there 3 weeks ago is a whopping and summer like 13!

There must have been quite a bit of rain already down here as there's quite a bit of standing water on some fields...nothing compared to Cumbria.

Stay safe everyone.

Can't believe all the rain again today, a fair few places back on flood watch I'm quite concerned for all the livestock, visions of foot rot running rampant especially as snow forecast in the higher areas so more fluid to add to the rivers and ground

I do echo what has been sad it's been inconvenient in Lancaster/Morecambe and some people suffered with far more power cuts than the majority but it's temporary and we knew it would come to end but those people flooded it's just desperate

I think the toy appeal is over whelmed tbh - I can only think of dc raising funds through a gift wrapping service or similar or cake sale???

We are on the A1. Just seen the a66 west exit closed. Fields are just drenched. Rivers are flooding but countryside is relatively flat here so you won't get the catastrophic effect there's been in Cumbria.

It's never let up though and we have a week of this forecast.

V wet & wild again here in South Cumbria. Hearing of more floods and snow on high ground

I live in a flood hit community and have also been extremely proud of the way the counties have come together to help - individuals, businesses etc all offering help and generally being superb and understanding.

We visited Carlisle today and drove up Warwick Road which was the worst hit street. What a sad sight it was, people's belongings were piled high on the pavements water damaged, everything they own on the kerb for all to see. One wedding dress shop had loads of damaged dresses piled up and it brought tears to my eyes. Well done on the Cumbria community foundation and army for going door to door to help victims out. What fab people we have in this country

I am so wiped out. Our MP arrived on Friday for a mooch round. FRIDAY! Too bloody late. 6 days too late. He was busy elsewhere as he has a government responsibility in Ireland. So he was there.

We have had local Council people crawling all over us since Monday, nice as they are, as individuals...... It is too late.

Not a thing was done to help us on Saturday when we needed it. The Village on the News, St Micheals on Wyre, had 30 households affected ( not that I am taking anything away from how awful it has been for anyone else) and we had 20 flooded, which is a Quarter of our little population.

Our local council stated on their website that they were not responsible for the population during a flood.
They have sensibly taken that stupid statement down off their website.

Also Cumbrian Properties ( bastards) who were charging flood victims £600 instead of £200 to find alternative accommodation, have apologised and refunded the money. Too bloody late.
Also the bastard taxi person who charged £95 to some people who were in the Glenridding wedding party, for a journey of a couple of miles, has likewise apologised. Too bloody late. The callousness of this is beyond belief.

The loss adjuster crawling around the village who kept telling me he could help me and kept using the word ' honestly' every other word, can bog off as well. I said please STOP using the word honestly, as I honestly don't believe you. ( or a word he said)

We are all so distressed. Even the ones who haven't actually been flooded were threatened and frightened. The whole village felt threatened.

A lovely young couple with a small baby have disappeared from their flooded home. Where are they, poor things.
I know they have no relatives close by as they are Scots.

It is a horrible nightmare.
The worse thing is, being dog tired and knowing how much energy we are going to need in the near future to combat the excuses and wriggling out of responsibility from the EA, the LCC, our council, insurance companies, and uncle Tom Cobbly and all.

Our flood defences needed a overhaul before this disaster happened.

Anyway I will try and keep you updated as to whether we get any money for flood proofing our homes, and a new rethought drainage and dyke system.

You know what, it will be years and years before we get any help.

What has happened to my community will happen again. OMG our homes are worthless.

hole I hope you get things sorted and the support you need xx

Dowser - the A66 had to close again because 60 cars got stuck in snow.

It's been a filthy day.

I heard about that letting agent, yesterday, hole. Utterly disgusting behaviour - no doubt rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of getting the money off people's insurers.

Hopefully, the young family with the baby have gone home to stay with extended family and are OK.

himh who is your MP? Is he the blue one?
It's shit how the vast majority has been barely acknowledged by the media. I've been yelling at the TV it's not just in Carlisle. Dh said there was something on this morning about the climate change and they mentioned Cumbria and the climate person didn't know what they were on about until they mentioned Carlisle.
I've now asked twice on here if MN could help with spreading awareness/charity donations link but not had a reply....