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Monmouth has recently faced severe flooding as the River Monnow surged to record-breaking levels, surpassing those seen during both Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024. The local community’s response has been remarkable, with residents and volunteers coming together to support those affected by the unprecedented water levels. The town’s leisure centre has opened its doors to evacuees, providing shelter and assistance, while a local church has become a hub for donation drop-offs, including clothing. Additionally, nearby businesses have stepped in to offer hot food to evacuees and responders alike.
The situation prompted South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to declare a major incident, mobilizing crews to rescue dozens of people from dangerous floodwaters. According to Catherine Fookes, the area’s Member of Parliament, the flood defences that served the town during the 2020 floods were overwhelmed by the sheer volume and speed of water. She emphasized the need to reevaluate existing protection measures, especially in light of increasing climate change impacts and the frequency of extreme weather events. “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.
Fookes also highlighted the ongoing challenges for local residents and businesses. She mentioned that nearby communities such as Abergavenny and Skenfrith have also experienced flooding, with Skenfrith facing annual inundations for the past five years. In Monmouth, she praised the tremendous spirit of volunteers who stepped forward to host displaced families, including those with pets, at short notice. She assured that she would push for increased funding not only to aid with the immediate clean-up but also to strengthen flood defence infrastructure in the future. Meanwhile, South Wales Fire and Rescue reported over 80 callouts by Saturday afternoon, reflecting the scale of the emergency.
The personal stories emerging from the floods paint a vivid picture of the crisis. Susie Martinez, a local resident, recounted how she and her two young sons were rescued in the early morning hours after having to escape through a window and board a boat. “It was terrifying,” she said. Business owners have also been hard-hit; Catherine Hall, who owns a shop in Monmouth, revealed the devastation caused by flood damage to her stock but confirmed her business remained open. As the Christmas season approaches, the MP urged shoppers not to avoid the town to help support the local economy during the recovery period. The Welsh government acknowledged the destructive effects of flooding and noted a £77 million investment this year alone in flood protection measures aimed at safeguarding 45,000 homes. At the same time, the Fire Brigades Union warned of the immense pressures faced by emergency services, calling attention to how the response in Monmouth and other incidents worldwide underscores both the critical role and significant strain on firefighting teams
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