Storm Babet Leaves Four Dead, Hundreds Homeless as Flooding Threat Persists
Storm Babet has claimed the lives of at least four individuals and left hundreds more homeless as the Environment Agency (EA) issues warnings of continued flooding in the coming days. The agency reported that approximately 1,250 properties in England have been flooded, while an estimated 30,000 properties required protection from rising water levels.
Although severe flood warnings, indicating a risk of death or serious injury, have been lifted, the EA anticipates the issuance of further flood warnings for the worst-affected areas this week. On Sunday, severe flood warnings for the River Derwent in Derby and the River Idle in the East Midlands were rescinded.
The EA issued a statement stating that River flooding will continue into Wednesday along the River Severn. Further flooding is possible from rivers and surface water on Tuesday and Wednesday for parts of England due to further heavy rain.
The recent fatality in the flooding was reported on Saturday when 83-year-old Maureen Gilbert was found deceased in her flooded home in Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Her son, Paul Gilbert, discovered her body and expressed his disbelief, having believed that the flood defenses he had installed would be sufficient to protect her. Tragically, Mrs. Gilbert’s neighbors experienced a rapid inundation of up to 5 feet of water within minutes of the River Rother bursting its banks.
Another victim of the flooding was 57-year-old Wendy Taylor, who lost her life after being swept into the Water of Lee, Glen Esk, on Thursday. Described as a ray of sunshine by her family, Wendy Taylor’s sudden passing has left her loved ones devastated.
First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf is expected to visit Brechin, Angus, on Monday to assess the extensive damage caused by the flooding of the River South Esk and the subsequent damage to homes in the area.
In response to the ongoing threat of flooding, meteorologists from the Met Office forecast a temporary respite with a couple of quieter days for the worst-affected regions. However, they caution that unsettled weather patterns are expected to resume later in the week.
The recent devastation caused by Storm Babet also saw a 56-year-old driver losing his life when a tree fell on his van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday. Additionally, a man in his 60s tragically perished after getting caught in fast-flowing floodwater in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, on Friday. In Aberdeenshire, there is an ongoing search operation following reports of a man trapped in a vehicle submerged in floodwater.
As affected communities grapple with the aftermath of the storm and begin the arduous task of recovery, local authorities are calling for patience as cleaning up the extensive flood damage is expected to take several days.
