Are our Welsh Grans all ok ?

Nanny27

It's nice that so many people are thinking of us in Wales. Round here we're have had quite severe flooding, many shops closed and most churches closed on Sunday. Schools near me seem to be generally open but a lot of buses not able to run so I guess attendance is patchy. We have a small river on our land and have checked it regularly. So far, despite scary levels it has remained in its bed.

It's nice that so many people are thinking of us in Wales.

I think a lot of people not on GN are also feeling sad and sorry for the people affected.

My OH was actually in tears watching a newsreel showing people desperately trying to empty their walled front-gardens of water with buckets, bowls, etc...

... he wondered if there was a Go-Fund-Me set up for them?

There should be no need, but it seems, based on what some have said, that they were not warned in advance sufficiently, and are more or less being left to get on with it. That of course is hear-say, but it does appear that councils were unprepared.

I think the problems partly developed because drains couldn’t cope with the volume of water and detritus over such a short space of time Dickens. Councils definitely should have been better prepared and provided sandbags where there were known/previous issues or rivers prone to flood - but because the rain came in torrential bursts and brought debris down from the hills with it, so many streets and homes which had never had issues before were overwhelmed. There have been lots of landslides too - it was as though it was coming down in buckets at times.

In Bradford-on-Avon the temporary flood defences were taken away not that long ago by the Environment Agency as apparently they were thought to be a hazard.

The shops and houses in Bradford-on-Avon are now flooded.

Casdon

I think the problems partly developed because drains couldn’t cope with the volume of water and detritus over such a short space of time Dickens. Councils definitely should have been better prepared and provided sandbags where there were known/previous issues or rivers prone to flood - but because the rain came in torrential bursts and brought debris down from the hills with it, so many streets and homes which had never had issues before were overwhelmed. There have been lots of landslides too - it was as though it was coming down in buckets at times.

Thanks for that info Casdon.

Yes, I saw a snapshot of a drain completely overflowing. And itt did happen so quickly.

The Met Office had issued a yellow-warning, so residents were probably concerned when the Taff started rising, but were not prepared for the deluge that came within about 15 minutes afterward.

... and NRW has - like its English counterpart - had cuts to its funding (250 jobs cut allegedly) in order to save £13 million from its budget.

Looking at the matter nationally, I don't believe cutting agency / council budgets and staff is good for the future considering the way the weather-patterns are changing,

I know historically we've had these 'events' but they are happening more frequently.

My own area was affected with flash-flooding (Gloucestershire) - but we had the appropriate warnings from the EA.

Such a beautiful day here in my part of Wales after the awful storm, causing so much flooding. Luckily I live high above the river Usk, but can see all the flooded fields and roads around. The force if the water coming off the mountain down my lane is quite frightening. Springs in my fields are gushing water into the ditches, dug specially to take storm water away from our driveway. Water is even coming out of the stone walling in the gardens!

The First Minister has said - Wales need better flood warnings.

Where DD lives in North Wales the combination of melting snow and rain caused their lane to resemble a river.DD was away and we were taking over looking after the children from their other grandparents.SIL’s niece brought them to the village in the tractor!Luckily the houses were fine and all the farm animals were safe.

Back to school and college here today, thank goodness.

I hope tonight's rain doesn't cause more trouble.

Thank you for asking. Luckily my area of Wales in Carmarthenshire is OK. I love living in Wales and feel sorry for the people that have had their homes flooded it must be awful.

And here comes the rain again.

We are in Carmarthen too * krazziecookie* . A bit cloudy today and quiet. No rain as yet

The National Lido in Pontypridd has been damaged again, it happen in the floods 4 years ago