The streets of Tapton Terrace in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, are now a scene of desperation and devastation. The once-quaint homes along the road are now completely submerged in a thick layer of wet brown mud, with walls bearing scars of the rapid water rise. Those who lived through the night are left to pick up the pieces, trying to come to terms with the magnitude of the disaster.
Lorna Squires, 56, who has lived in her house for 13 years, recalls the chaos that unfolded when the nearby River Rother burst its banks due to Storm Babet. Despite having flood defences in place, the water somehow managed to seep in and destroy her home. “We had the flood defences up, but the water came over the top and started pouring through the letterbox and broke the back door off. Well, you’ve got no hope by then,” she said.
The neighbour of Lorna Squires, 83-year-old Maureen Gilbert, tragically lost her life during the flood. Her body was found in the floodwater on the ground floor of her home. Her son, Paul, revealed that he had built 4ft-high flood defences outside her home on Friday, but despite advising her to stay upstairs, she was unable to escape the rapidly rising water. “I honestly can’t put it into words at the moment. There’s a bit of anger because nothing ever seems to get done,” Paul said.
The floodwaters also claimed the life of a young man, whose family has declined to release his name. As the community comes to terms with the loss, residents are left to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. Anne Squires, 38, whose family has lost everything in the flood, lamented the lack of insurance coverage and the uncertainty that lies ahead. “I still haven’t even finished paying off my sofa and I checked the paperwork this morning and it’s not covered for flood damage,” she said.
Water-Flooded Desperation Grips Chesterfield’s Tapton TerraceThe flood has left scores of residents forced to navigate the challenges of finding alternative accommodation, coping with financial losses, and dealing with the emotional toll of the disaster. Stephanie Winnard, who had installed flood defences after a previous flood in June 2007, revealed that the barriers were no match for the highest ever recorded water levels. “We thought it would be inches of water, if that, but no – we had 5ft of water. It came up the drains, the toilets, it comes from everywhere and you’ve got no chance,” she said.
As the residents of Tapton Terrace struggle to rebuild their lives, they are demanding a longer-term solution to prevent future flooding. Lorna Squires urged the council to take action, saying “We need better flood defences, and the river needs dredging – we’ve been after that since 2007 and nothing has been done.” Despite the devastation, the community has rallied around each other, leaving flowers outside Maureen Gilbert’s home and aiding each other in the recovery efforts. As the people of Tapton Terrace come to terms with the devastating consequences of the flood, they are left to wonder when and if the government will take the necessary steps to prevent such disasters from occurring again.