Over the weekend, heavy rainfall led to flooding across Derbyshire, resulting in the evacuation of about 1,700 homes. Storm Babet hit the UK on Friday and caused many areas, including Nottinghamshire, to break its daily rainfall record for October last week. According to the county council, about 200 roads were closed at various times due to the heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain on Tuesday, which could result in more flooding.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow told the Commons on Monday that at least seven people had died in the UK following the storm, including 83-year-old Maureen Gilbert in Derbyshire. Gilbert was found dead in her flooded home in Tapton Terrace in Chesterfield on Saturday. Her neighbours said that five feet of water had engulfed the inside of their properties within minutes of the River Rother bursting its banks. Pow stated that the Environment Agency was working very closely with the residents to fully review what happened.
The flood water also severely damaged many businesses in Derbyshire. Ian Marshall, who runs Mertrux, a Mercedes-Benz dealership close to the A52, said that more than £1m worth of parts had been damaged, and flood defences put in place nearby had not worked. Many residents of Alms Cottages have been staying with family members after flood water quickly entered their homes in Ashbourne. Ben Sellers, who helped clear sodden furniture from the properties with his friend Mark Harrison, said the damage was “really bad”. The men have set up an online fundraising page, which has raised more than £7,000 to help the residents buy new furniture and carpets
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