Advice for residents amid storm concerns

The director of the Scottish Flood Forum believes flooding is becoming an all-year-round problem thanks to climate change.

The independent charity funded by the Scottish Government will be in several Perthshire locations this week offering advice and information to local residents.

Perth and Kinross Council asked for the organisation’s help when much of Perthshire was deluged by heavy rainfall overnight on August 11-12.

Director Carol Raeburn said: “We were contacted by Perth and Kinross Council to come and support them.”

Homes and businesses in Alyth, Bridge of Earn, Dunning, Kinross and Perth were all affected by flood damage.

Carol believes global warming means storms such as the severe one a fortnight ago could sadly become more common.

She said: “I think with climate change this may be the way of the future.

“I have only been with the Scottish Flood Forum since February and since February we have had Storm Ciara, Storm Dennis and now we had this.

“When I got this position someone said to me what will you do in the summer?”

She said: “We are breaking away from traditional storms being in the winter and I think that’s down to climate change.”

The small organisation – with only four members of staff – is currently responding to multiple incidents all over Scotland.

Carol said: “In Perth, as is often the case, nobody was expecting this to happen.

“It’s a huge emotional trauma.”

“It’s an invasion of their home. It’s a very emotional line of work that we do.

“You cannot help but feel for the people we come across and just the sheer enormity of that water coming into your home.”

Carol said the Covid-19 pandemic had given flood victims “a heightened feeling of vulnerability”.

She explained: “The place you feel safe has been impacted.”

Carol and her colleagues will be offering their support at four different locations:

Today – Kinross (Lochleven Mills) 10am-4pm;

Tomorrow – Perth, King Edward Street, 10am-4pm;

Tomorrow – Dunning, 6pm- 9pm;

Thursday – Alyth, 10am-4pm.