Flood damage to homes can affect owners’ mental health, report says

HAVING YOUR home damaged by storms or flooding can significantly increase the chance of mental health problems such as stress and depression, experts have warned.

Research highlighted by the Environment Agency to mark Flood Action Week shows that experiencing damage from extreme weather such as storms and floods can increase the risk of mental health issues by 50 per cent.

A quarter of people who have been flooded are still living with the impact on their mental health two years after the event, research suggests.

Flooding can impact on mental health for a variety of reasons, from the financial costs of fixing damage, to the loss of personal items and the stress it can put on relationships.

Low income renters are among the most at risk from the financial shock of a flood, with the majority not having home contents insurance.

Yorkshire has seen devastating flooding in recent years, including in North and South Yorkshire last year. More than 300 homes, 30 businesses and 50 farms were flooded when a freak summer storm in July washed away roads and bridges in remote parts of Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale.

In November more than 1,000 households in South Yorkshire were affected by flooding, including in Fishlake and Bentley near Doncaster.

The Environment Agency is calling on people at risk to check the Prepare, Act, Survive guidance, simple instructions on how to keep people and possessions safe in a flood.

Measures include preparing a bag with medication and important documents to take when evacuating, and moving valuable or sentimental items upstairs or to higher ground. Caroline Douglass, from the Environment Agency, said: “It’s not just the financial stress, it’s the loss of irreplaceable sentimental belongings and the strain it can have on those affected. We are already seeing more frequent and intense flooding as a result of climate change, so we would urge everyone to know the simple steps to take – such as

Mary Dhonau had to wade through waist-high sewage when her home flooded.

moving possessions upstairs and preparing a grab bag with medicines and important documents – to help reduce the damage and keep yourself and your family safe.”

Worcester resident and flood resilience campaigner Mary Dhonau, 58, has seen first-hand the devastation of having her home flooded – including with waistheight sewage in 2000.

She said: “When my street flooded in 2000, we had just found out my youngest son was severely autistic. The bewilderment when he realised the flood had ruined his toys was devastating.

“One of my neighbours who is severely agoraphobic had to move out of her house, and another who had been recently widowed found all her wedding photographs had been ruined by the floodwater.

“Living through a flood is the most appalling experience and really does compound issues you are already dealing with.”

At the weekend, the “forgotten” flood victims of the Dales demanded to be placed on an equal Government footing with communities in the south of the county. They want Whitehall to guarantee to match fund money raised locally to help victims, which could bring in at least an extra £250,000 for relief work.

Living through a flood is the most appalling experience.