Peaking: What do I mean by that, anyone living in Britain will understand, the rivers that grace our land, are in full flow, sweeping down a bridge in one area, sweeping across roads, flooding rail lines and worst of all into people's home's. Given that we are supposed to isolate, hundreds of people have to leave their homes and find accommodation elsewhere, luckily hotels are empty.
Down the road from me the town of Malton waiting for the peak, has the River Derwent rushing through, pumps are employed to pump some of the water out so that the houses are not flooded once more. York is waiting for its peak from the River Foss, so far has escaped most flooding but the peak will happen early morning.
Round here with our River Seven, well I would not try the back lanes down to a town either, the lanes flood intermittently, and getting out of the drive on to a flooded road is not really sensible at all. At the end of the drive, the water is still knee deep on the road, a man passed by yesterday, wading through in his expensive wellies. Apparently he was testing the water to go to Malton, luckily the road seems closed, there has hardly been any traffic except the occasional large lorry.
But of course we are on the flat of Pickering Vale, and the water levels in the fields around are creating vast shallow lakes. I notice that Nigel's small flock is on his last bit of green field, as well as Rachel's sheep on hummocks of little green islands from the back window of this house.
But of course my daughter's area always has the full force of flooding because of the narrow Calder valley. Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and the village of Walsden experience flooding. She lives in a Victorian terrace with a basement and had a pump put in several years ago. Apparently it did start up the other night but no sign of water coming up yet.
So spare a thought for all those people who every so often experience devastating flooding of their homes and they once more set out to clear wet stinking furniture from their homes and start the whole sorry business of cleaning up.
Previous flooding at Mytholmroyd
My brother lives in Old Malton. A retired farmer he has attended numerous meetings about local building work and the diversion of water courses exacerbating the flooding risk, it’s made no difference. Industrial estates and new housing continue at a pace, this morning residents watch the water level rise to a new record.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny, Pickering seems to have had some success with their river scheme, slowing it down as it came into the town, did not realise Malton had a problem. I see from photos that it floods from the station onward.
DeleteKeith's g. grandfather and family lived in Malton. Didn't know you were close where you are now.
ReplyDeleteApparently the Wye was across the car park down in Builth during Storm Christoph but when we drove into town yesterday the river was in its rightful place but the roads up to the bridge shut for a clean-up, detouring everything through the town via what is normally a short cut. We are well above any rivers here, and in a sheltered spot.
It is just about 8 miles there, Malton has all the supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons and a small Sainsbury there Jennie. (Just noticed two Jennies). The rivers are calming down this morning, ours has gone from just under four metres to one and a half. Though there is bad flooding in the North of Wales and of course more water to come down from the higher ground.
ReplyDeleteGlad that was not a current picture! It made me catch my breath.
ReplyDeleteWe are having much more water fall from the skies because of climate change, and because it is getting warmer it becomes rain rather than snow Debby which we should have at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteOn the News last evening they showed the whole frront of a brick terrace of houses fall into the flood water - I find it all quite terrifi ng. My sympathies are with those who have to clean up.
ReplyDeleteDid not see that Pat but it sounds frightening for the people involved.
DeleteOh, that is terrible - hope all will be safe and the rain lets up soon. What a mess!
ReplyDeleteBritish towns have all started up next to rivers, like most countries and they are the first to go when the heavens open up.
DeleteI understand peaking; I've lived in a flood plane. How awful to have it happen to homeowners you know or know of.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is lucky, because the basement takes the water, though it makes it unpracticable for using, all it has is the deep freeze chest, which is a shame for it is a large area.
Delete