Peter and Kay Williams’ house in Nantgarw was once 6ft underwater during Storm Dennis, a nightmare they’ll never forget. Imagine seeing your favourite vinyl record floating up the stairs, lost to the flood! Rescued by boat, spending a year away from their home, and losing cars and precious keepsakes, the Williams family endured it all.
Their daughter Louise, living nearby, hoped for floodgates to protect her parents, but the council turned them down. Why? Apparently, their home didn’t get flooded during a more recent storm, and floodgates aren’t deemed suitable for past water depths over 1.2 meters. Frustrating, isn’t it?
The stress of heavy rain still haunts Peter and Kay. Louise shares how just dining out on a rainy day can cause anxiety for her parents, fearing a repeat of past devastation. Totally understandable, right? You’ve got to feel for them.
Authorities mentioned plans for a broad flood strategy but it’s little comfort for the Williamses now. Lou’s calling for more priority on flood defences and understanding the lasting mental health impacts from such experiences.
Stressful times every heavy rain—they’ve had nine flood alerts recently. Let’s hope for better protection soon. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, don’t they?
What do you think? How should flood protection be improved? Discuss below! 💬