Monmouth pulls together after unprecedented floods

Flood waters have started to recede since Monmouth's River Monnow reached record levels on Saturday

People are rallying together to help householders and businesses hit by unprecedented flooding in Monmouth, according to the local MP.

"This community is incredibly resilient and kind," said Catherine Fookes, as the town's leisure centre has been open to people evacuated from their properties.

A church is also acting as a drop-off point for donations including clothes, and local businesses have been providing hot food.

A major incident declaration early on Saturday was rescinded on Sunday afternoon, the fire service said.

And all four of the most severe flood warnings - meaning a "significant risk to life" - were also removed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on Sunday.

On Saturday, the River Monnow reached record levels - exceeding those recorded during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.

The Welsh government has paid tribute to the emergency response and said help was available to people affected from local authorities via its Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme.

Fookes said it was a "really worrying time now for residents and businesses" and, while the "big clear up" continued, its existing flood defences would need to be reconsidered.

"The flood defences did hold in a similar situation in 2020 but this flood, this amount of water, coming very fast in a short space of hours, was most definitely unprecedented," she told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement.

"I do think now with climate change and, with the amount of big weather events that we're getting, that we do have to relook at flood defences."

She said she would be seeking "more money for residents and more money for the clean-up, but also more money for those flood defences", with flooding also at Abergavenny and nearby Skenfrith village which has been "flooded every single year for the past five years".

She said people had come to Monmouth leisure centre offering to help families in need, including looking after pets.

Gift shop owner Jenny Chuter and pharmacy manager Simon Morre say their businesses have been hard hit by the floods

Gift shop owner Jenny Chuter said crafts made by some of the 80 local artists she worked with had been damaged in the floods, which have also "devastated" her shop in Monmouth.

"It was heartbreaking walking in and seeing all my artists' and crafters' work which was floating about," she said.

"Many hours of hard work has gone into this work that had been destroyed."

She said they had since "got their kit out and they're making more for us for Christmas".

"Hopefully we will be open by the weekend and we'll get some Christmas presents out to all the customers," she added.

'It's a disaster'

Pharmacy manager Simon Morre was unable to get inside his store until Sunday morning despite arriving on the scene at 04:00 on Saturday after being alerted by its alarms.

"I've got people's prescriptions due tomorrow [but] we've got no power, half the stock has been ruined, half the scripts [prescriptions] have been ruined.

"Head office has been informed and there is contingency planning for that but, at the moment, we have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow."

He advised people to call NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice and support.

"It's a disaster. I can't reorder stock back in because we have got no computers or power.

"The surgery next door has had to relocate."

Monmouth business owner Catherine Hall's shop has been flooded and resident Susie Martinez and her sons were rescued by boat in the early hours

Susie Martinez, 42, described how she and her sons, Louis, nine, and Joey, five, were rescued from their flat in Monmouth on Saturday at 03:30.

"We had to climb out of the window and into a boat," she said.

"It was terrifying."

Business owner Catherine Hall said her shop remained open to customers despite the damage.

"It's six weeks until Christmas and I don't know what will happen before then.

"It's devastating. There's thousands and thousands worth of stock gone."

Fookes urged shoppers not to stay away from Monmouth while Christmas shopping in the coming weeks to ensure flood-hit businesses did not miss out on trade.

"There are businesses open there today so please don't just avoid Monmouth for the next six weeks because we will clear up fast," she said.

The Welsh government said flooding has "devastating impacts" and it was investing a "record £77m in flood protection this year alone as part of our commitment to fund improved flood protection to 45,000 homes this Senedd term".

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it dealt with more than 80 callouts by Saturday afternoon, with clean-up work continuing on Sunday.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), which represents firefighters, said the incident highlighted the "immense pressure" on fire and rescue services, with firefighters being "stretched to the limit".

Neighbouring crews had to be drafted in to provide support, as well as a host of other agencies.

"The scale of the response in Monmouth and elsewhere shows once again just how vital our service is when disasters hit," said FBU general secretary Steve Wright.

"But it is also clear that services are under huge strain."

Transport for Wales has advised rail passengers to check before travelling with the railway between Newport and Hereford expected to remain closed until at least Tuesday, and limited services between Hereford and Shrewsbury.

It advised customers "not to travel between Shrewsbury and Newport as we have been unable to source sufficient replacement road transport and cannot guarantee customers will be able to reach their destination".

Flooding has also blocked the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno Junction and it said Conwy Valley Line will remain closed until the end of the day.