Trauma goes on for Storm Babet flood victims

Lynn Shortt’s cottage was one of 130 properties flooded in Attleborough when a stream burst its banks

A year on from the devastation caused by Storm Babet, flood victims are struggling to recover - with many still not back in their homes.

More than 1,600 homes and businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk were engulfed when over a month’s worth of rain fell in just four days.

"We’ve been out of our home for 11 months, the majority of our possessions were lost. Our house has been totally destroyed, ” said Lynn Shortt, whose Norfolk cottage flooded for the fourth time.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency (EA) said since October 2023's storm it had improved flood warning systems and was working with landowners to "slow the flow" after heavy rain.

'Year of upheaval'

Repairs to Mrs Shortt’s cottage, in Attleborough, have still not been finished. The total insurance claim, including temporary accommodation, is £90,000.

“It was a catastrophe. A year of upheaval and possibly the most difficult time I can remember.

“We’d put in flood barriers, but that wasn’t good enough. The water came through the walls, it came through the toilet, the whole house was just engulfed.

"The house is almost done and has been extensively gutted downstairs to make it as watertight as possible. We are not convinced that this is the last time we will be flooded."

A year after Storm Babet, many people have still not returned to their homes

'Lack of maintenance'

Since the flood, £37,000 has been spent in Attleborough replacing a grille that catches debris from Besthorpe stream during floods.

One hundred tonnes of silt and rubbish have also been cleared from two culverts.

Henry Cator, from the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance - made up of agencies and partners that plan for and respond to flooding - said the work should make a "huge difference".

He said: “The Besthorpe stream hadn’t been maintained.

"More and more houses have been built over the years, but the stream itself has not been modified at all. The next thing to do is to slow the flow getting to Attleborough from the headwaters higher up.

"We are hoping to put in some leaky dams [structures which can ease water flow] with the co-operation of landowners and farmers to stop the surge coming down at times of heavy rainfall."

Henry Cator, from the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, says work is underway to slow water flow during heavy rain

'Lack of urgency'

Jade Martin, from Debenham Veterinary Practice, says they may have to install a flood wall

Debenham Veterinary Practice in Suffolk was flooded when the River Deben burst its banks.

It now operates out of a temporary reception building made from recycled shipping containers. The practice came close to being flooded again in February.

Co-owner Jade Martin said repair work had ground to a halt. She is still negotiating a settlement with her insurers - and the cost of repairs has soared.

“We have no reassurance that this isn’t going to happen again. We are looking at building our own flood defences along with the flood defence work.

"The river has got to be dredged. The silt has got to be removed all the way through the village.

"There isn’t the money, there isn’t the resource and there isn’t the urgency."

A shortage of builders means repair work at Debenham Veterinary Practice has ground to a halt

The EA said Storm Babet had left people “traumatised” and there was “no one solution” to stopping similar flooding happening again.

Aaron Dixey, flood risk manager for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, said people could protect their properties with flood doors and air brick covers - and should sign up to the agency’s flood warning service.

“We have started work with landowners upstream of communities that were flooded, looking for opportunities for land management changes.

"Farmers can receive payments to slow the flow, preventing soil from washing off and the water from hitting communities as quickly as it did.

"All the agencies I know are working very hard behind the scenes to try to do what they can to help people.

"We’ve used the data from Storm Babet to improve our flood warning system. Let’s not forget that Storm Babet was significant. It was a very big event."

Aaron Dixey, from the Environment Agency, says the sheer volume of rainfall meant rivers could not cope