Communities at risk as rising river levels cause more f looding
THOUSANDS of people suffered flood chaos last night as heavy rain brought river levels to record highs.
Homes were evacuated and rest centres set up for residents and rescue workers as Aberdeenshire bore the brunt of the latest downpours.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued severe flood warnings for Inverurie and Kintore.
The agency said there was a risk to life in Aberdeenshire as rapidly rising water levels threatened communities along the River Don. River levels in Inverurie and Kintore were expected to exceed those in 2002 and 2009, when the area flooded.
Inveramsay Bridge, near Inverurie, was closed in both directions as the Ury, which flows into the Don at Inverurie, swelled and a car became stuck.
Aberdeenshire Council said it was deali ng with an ‘ escalating emergency response situation’, while Police Scotland North-East officers tweeted: ‘Please don’t travel tonight’ amid reports of cars becoming stranded in flood water.
The River Deveron burst its banks, forcing the closure of the B9025 at Deveron Bridge in Turriff and leading the authorities to consider closing the Banff Bridge.
In Huntly, 21 residents were evacuated from the Meadows Care Home near the Deveron, while 25 residents were evacuated from Woodside Care Home in Aber Aberdeen. Residents of the Grandholm area of the city were evacuated after water l evels i n the Don reached a record high.
The river, which runs through the city to the North Sea, was expected to burst its banks last night.
Aberdeen City Council said river levels continued to rise as the rain persisted, with snow falling in Keith and Huntly. A spokesman said: ‘Residents are advised to seek shelter with friends and family. Alternatively, a respite centre has been set up at Bridge of Don Academy.
‘Alternative accommodation has been found for vulnerable adults living in three affected care homes in Grandholm. Staff have opened Rosehill Day Centre as a rest centre for older or vulnerable adults whom we may need to evacuate.’
The Burnett Arms pub in Banchory and Kemnay Academy nearly 20 miles away were opened up to provide rest centres for people evacuated from their homes.
Rest centres have been set up at Inverurie Academy, Kintore Community Hall and Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire.
Aberdeen Airport was closed after
‘Residents advised to seek shelter’
a hole appeared on the runway, thought to have been caused by the heavy rain. The repair works caused 28 arrivals and 15 departures to be cancelled, with more cancellations feared early today.
Roads across Tayside, Angus and Aberdeenshire were affected by flooding. Flood gates were closed in Stonehaven, where residents feared the Carron could burst its banks. In Dyce, a bus driver and passenger were rescued by boat after it became stuck in floodwater.
Rail travel was disrupted between Aberdeen and Dundee, and Inverurie and Inverness, while more than 20 schools in Aberdeenshire will be closed or partially closed today due to the severe weather.
The floods took centre stage at Holyrood yesterday as the Scottish Government was accused of failing flood-ravaged communities, which have yet to see a penny of an emergency bail-out fund.
While Westminster’s £45million cash has been distributed in flooded areas in England, none of Scotland’s £5million share has reached those affected.
Scottish Conservative l eader Ruth Davidson said SNP ministers were dragging their feet. But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘We need to take time to assess the full impact so we know what the appropriate allocation of funding will be. We might need to allocate more than £5million.’
Meanwhile, engineers have saved 16th- century Abergeldie Castle from falling victim to fresh torrents caused by yesterday’s downpours.
Tons of rocks and boulders tipped into the Dee to shore up the crumbling bank have prevented the swollen waters inching nearer the walls of the Gordon ancestral home near Ballater, Aberdeenshire.