Case Study - 2013 / 2014 Winter Floods

2013 to 2014 Winter Floods

During the winter of 2013 and 2014 prolonged and heavy rainfall caused substantial damage flooding around 7,800 homes and 3000 commercial properties around the UK. The rainfall in January was the wettest on record in some locations and in other areas there was more than twice the average monthly rainfall.

East Coast Surge

Due to a deep low pressure area moved from the Atlantic over the North Sea there were some of the highest tide levels recorded since the 1953 North Sea Flood.

I was tasked with organising teams to provide critical mitigating and drying works along the East Coast of the UK mainly in the Norfolk / South East and East Yorkshire areas. There were both domestic and commercial properties affected by these devastating floods.

There were many different styles and ages of property, some 400 years old, so they had to be assessed independently, with the appropriate drying process implemented. A commercial fitness centre was significantly affected by the East Coast surge which was impacting on their business financially. To ensure business disruption was kept to a minimum varying drying methods were used incorporating targeted air flow which enabled parts of the fitness centre to be safely used preventing disastrous closure.

Somerset Levels Flood

Due to the heavy and prolonged rainfall along with the River Tone and River Parrett bursting their banks onto an already saturated flood plain around 600 houses were flooded.

When I had been instructed to help with the Somerset Floods it was evident that some of the properties had been underwater for weeks, so when the water had subsided, a careful drying strategy was provided to ensure the home owners could return to their property with the suitable living conditions in place.

Multiple properties were dried simultaneously which ensured drying times were reduced significantly; this saved on unnecessary alternative accommodation costs and enabled the home owners to return to their property as soon as possible.

During this very traumatic time for home and business owners the effective communication between all parties was vital, also it was imperative the interactions were always respectful and professional.