Residents of Catcliffe, a South Yorkshire village, expressed their disappointment at the lack of support they’ve received as a result of Storm Babet. The Environment Agency said that 250 homes were evacuated in Catcliffe near Rotherham on Saturday, yet some residents pointed out the “lack of assistance” on Sunday. The agency responded with a statement that it is “currently looking at the best use of our pumps and other resources”. Malcom Smith, a resident of Catcliffe, compared the situation with the flooding seen in other parts of the UK, stating that if the area was “next to London or on the South Coast, millions of pounds would be spent on wonderful flood defences”.
One resident, Chris Lloyd, claimed that following the 2007 floods, residents were assured that it wouldn’t happen again, only to find themselves evacuated in the early hours of Saturday morning. Sophie Skidmore also spoke out, stating how much she had lost and the emotional strain felt as a result of the flood. She said: “It’s really hit me this morning how much we have lost. Some very sentimental things for definite. It’s just awful.” With tears in her eyes, Skidmore questioned the lack of information around when she could return home, stating that “nobody has told us anything”.
The village of Catcliffe, part of which sits in a natural dip, hasn’t been helped by its topography. After the 2007 flood, which prompted the installation of new defenses, residents hoped that they wouldn’t see a repeat of the disaster. As of Sunday lunchtime, the Environment Agency said there were 14 flood warnings and 23 alerts where flooding is possible. It urges residents to keep updated on this website. Some parts of Yorkshire have seen double the monthly averages of rainfall in the last 24 to 48 hours, according to the Environment Agency.
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