Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Storm victims left in limbo
SIX months on from Storm Babet, many flooded homes in Brechin are still far from habitable.
While some residents are looking forward to getting back into their dried-out, reinstated houses, many are living in fear and dread of what the future might bring.
They claim there is little being done to reassure them their homes will not flood yet again – and to improve flood prevention.
Having lost everything during that fateful weekend in October last year, it has been a hard slog and an emotional challenge for senior charge nurse June Soutar.
June, 60, left her ground-floor flat on Brechin’s East Mill Road on the night of the flood, on October 19, believing she could return the following day.
But when she did return, she found everything was ruined. Clothing, furniture and carpets were covered in muddy, contaminated water and her late father’s car was a write-off.
With nowhere to go, June slept on her daughter’s sofa for six weeks before booking into an Airbnb, and then into a rental property in Brechin in January.
“It’s been absolute hell,” said
June.
“I’ve not been able to work since the flood. It’s taken a big toll on my mental and physical health.
“My statutory sick pay stopped, so I’ve no income.”
June says her home is not yet completely dry or stripped out.
She claims her insurance company will not remove plaster covered in black mould, and that mould is travelling up to the ceiling.
“I’m devastated. I can’t stop crying,” said June.
“I don’t have money to repair this.”
June is also upset at what she claims is a lack of communication from Angus Council.
She said: “There’s nothing from the council about what measures are to be put in place to prevent this happening again.”
David and Isla Scott were trapped in the attic with their two dogs as their home on East Mill House Gardens was engulfed by rising flood waters.
The couple were eventually rescued by boat, but it was a terrifying three-hour wait.
Since then, they have been living in rental accommodation in Brechin.
Retired engineer David says the couple have racked up electricity bills of £4,000 thanks to drying equipment running 24/7.
“Insurance said they’d settle us once the house is dried out,” he said. “There was some amount of power being used, so much so that a power socket was starting to crack and melt.”
David says he is unaware of any measures being taken to prevent such flooding happening again.
“It’s taking ages for anything to happen. We’re lucky our insurance company has been good. People have been in to check moisture levels.”
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “Angus Council and its partners have worked hard to help the whole of Angus and especially Brechin to recover from the unprecedented amount of damage caused by Storm Babet.
“Residents can receive updates and support via our drop-in service every Thursday morning at the Crickety, via engage.angus.gov.uk/ brechin or by phoning 03452 777 778.”