CLEAN-UP CONTINUES A WEEK AFTER STORM DENNIS:
HOUSEHOLDERS, businesses and community groups have spent the past week piecing their lives back together following the devastation caused by Storm Dennis.
Last weekend the country was battered by winds topping 90mph and rainfall of more than 16cm in some areas, as more than a month’s worth of rain fell in 48 hours.
Dawn Pieta, from Six Bells in Abertillery, said the stream in her garden flooded, causing thousands of pounds of damage.
“We have so much debris around the house,” she said.
The 60-year-old said she felt “desperate”, as she spent £20,000 last year on measures to prevent flooding.
She said she and her civil partner laid pipes aiming to help with drainage, but the flood ripped the pipes out.
Dawn said she felt “very stressed”, adding: “I was thinking we did not need to worry, then the storm came. Now we have tonnes and tonnes of debris.”
The couple’s garden was under 2ft of water in places, but luckily their home stayed dry, thanks to a flood gate.
Dawn said she is now concerned about further flooding, with more heavy rain expected. She added: “It is just devastating. I just can’t sleep.”
A week ago Cardiff’s Bute Park was submerged under water. Yesterday Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas tweeted that around 100 volunteers joined councillors and council staff to help remove six tonnes of waste after the flood left the site covered in debris.
Mond Valley Golf Club, in the Swansea Valley, closed temporarily after being completely submerged in water last Sunday.
The popular golf club in Clydach is located just above the River Tawe, which burst its banks during Storm Dennis.
Water saturated the course and reached around 5ft deep in the club’s popular function room.
Two days later, the course was no longer under water and the club said golf resumed six days after the flood.
The Newport High School Old Boys Rugby Club in Caerleon had its pitch completely flooded and its club house heavily damaged during the storm.
The club was left with no power and equipment such as pumps for showers, fridges and boilers were destroyed.
Mike Casey set up a campaign on GoFundMe following the flood.
He said: “In the wake of Storm Dennis, our club has been heavily damaged by flooding.
“All equipment such as pumps for showers, boilers and fridges have been destroyed.”
Within a week, the appeal raised more than £7,000 of its £10,000 goal, with the money raised going to the repair efforts for all age groups and teams.
Those involved in one of the biggest clean-up operations the country has ever seen have said the best thing people can donate is cleaning products for the crews and volunteers disposing of the devastation caused by Storm Dennis.
A representative from Trallwn community centre in Pontypridd said they were overwhelmed with the response from the public so far, and are now asking for donations of as many cleaning products as they can get.
A spokesman said: “The response we’ve had from the community here has been absolutely amazing, and we’re very grateful to have been given so much from people who live nearby.
“We’re at the point where we’re turning people away with spare clothes, toys and bedding as we have so much already, but what we really need are things that will help us get rid of the mess.
“Things such as gardening gloves, strong bin liners, buckets and hard brushes to sweep away the mess left behind are vital. We could also do with shovels and wellies as they can really make a difference in helping people clean up over the next few days.
“We’re also going to need lots of hand sanitiser, as much as we can get in fact, to make sure that people aren’t picking up germs while they work in all this mess.
“It’s going to be a tough job, but with help from volunteers we know we’ll get it done.”
In Llanhilleth the local miner’s institute has become a designated meeting point for flood victims in Blaenau Gwent, offering hot meals and advice for anyone in the area affected by the storm. Laura Price from Abertillery usually works as a Child Development Officer in the area, though has been drafted in to help local people affected by the floods. She said: “The communities have really pulled together right across the Welsh valleys, so we’re very proud of that.
“We have a room here in Llanhilleth Institute for people to bring in donations, but would encourage them to phone in before they turn up with things.
“Call ahead and ask what your local drop-off centre needs before you go in, as this can have the biggest impact in helping your area, and saves wasting time as well.
“For us at the moment toiletries are needed, as well as cleaning equipment such as mops and brushes to clean away some of the silt that’s been left behind.”
As homeowners, companies and sports clubs work hard to clean up after the devastation, there are more weather warnings in place for this weekend.