The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Residents ‘living in constant fear’ after second deluge in nine weeks
Residents of a Perthshire village say they are living in constant fear of storms after their homes were flooded twice in as many months.
People in Abernethy have seen their homes damaged and one resident narrowly avoided being swept away when floods hit the village again on Friday.
Two nearby burns, Nethy Burn and Ballo Burn, burst their banks after the heavy rain, causing fast-flowing water to pour through the centre of Abernethy, breaking pavements and leaving sludge and debris in its wake.
Residents who have seen their homes damaged again, just nine weeks after the last flood, face Christmas in temporary accommodation.
They were forced to take drastic action on Friday, as water poured through Main Street.
One resident, Bob Cuthbert, watched as floodwater destroyed his furniture, boiler and garden.
The 43-year-old felt he had no choice but to let water pass through his garden as trying to divert it would have pushed it towards Abernethy Primary School.
His home was also flooded in September, forcing him and his family to move into temporary accommodation.
They had been hoping to return before Christmas but this has been delayed due to the second flood.
He said: “We are now a community living in fear every day.
“We are living in fear of when our properties and belongings are going to be damaged.
“We are living in fear of someone being seriously injured or killed.”
“We need help and support.”