Flashing flooding causes damage in Bridgend

Flashing flooding causes damage in Bridgend

Residents in Bridgend are facing a devastating situation as flash flooding has returned to haunt them for the second time in nine months. An overnight downpour resulted in waist-deep water filling ground-floor properties, forcing an elderly woman to be rescued by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Liam Reilly, a 30-year-old resident, expressed his frustration at the prolonged displacement, stating that it might be many more months before he and his partner can return to their flat, which was once again inundated with water from a nearby culvert.

The catastrophic flooding in Bridgend has disrupted the plans of many residents who were hoping to move back into their homes after being displaced due to flooding last year. Correspondingly, a weekend of circus events had to be postponed as the big top tent and vehicles were also hit by the flash floods. Reilly lamented how their lives have been put on hold indefinitely, with their uninhabitable house still requiring payments. Consequently, they are left with no choice but to live with family members for the foreseeable future.

Following the damage caused by the latest flood, Reilly and his partner remain resolute, despite having lost everything in the first flood. He revealed that their property was empty this time as they were still in the process of rebuilding from the previous disaster. Referring to his mobile coffee van that was affected during the initial flood, Reilly emphasized the need to keep moving forward as he runs a business that requires his attention. Despite being insured, they are facing the daunting task of starting over once again due to the recurring nature of the natural disaster that has plagued their community.

In addition to dealing with the immediate aftermath of the flooding, residents like Reilly have faced multiple challenges in the past due to similar incidents of flooding, with 10 ground-floor flats requiring extensive repairs after last year’s floods. The repeated inundation of properties in Bridgend has highlighted the vulnerability of these homes to such environmental disasters, exacerbated by factors like a blocked culvert that has been identified as a source of the flooding on previous occasions. As the community grapples with the impacts of this recurring crisis, the need for long-term solutions to protect residents and their properties from future flooding events becomes increasingly evident

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