You Look Out The Window And See...... FLOOD!!!!

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Guys

Well I suppose most of us have had that what if there was a flood, what would I save, what could I save, could I save anything ? Well my worst nightmare just happened.

Just before 6 there were a few cracks of thunder and it began to rain and rain and rain and then the waters of the deep rose and the waters of the heavens came.... well not quite a Biblical flood but nearly..... :eek:

It became clear that the house was in immediate risk of flooding and I faced those questions what to clear and how to clear it. How did I do? I got a lot moved, nearly killed myself doing it but I learn't a lot too PSUs are a pain.

Have a flood barrier or sand bags to hand. When the shit hits the fan you are alone, the authorities don't want to know. Cars driving through flood waters create huge bow waves, those alone could flood your home.

Anyway the rain stopped and the flood stopped just a wee bit shy of the front of the house, thankfully solid concrete lower floors so no under floor boards water to worry about.

Power went off for a bit but then came back on so we could watch our houses flood :doh:

The water was and still is full of sewage and fuel oil but it is going down now the road is while not back to normal clearing. I think I know how Noah felt now seeing the first signs of dry land... insert able to breath again gif.

Here are a few photos.

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/244.jpg

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[Roy S]

Glad I live on top of a hill

[Spectral Morn]

Not out of the woods yet.

Where I live is shaped like a letter L the bottom of the L is still flooded but is receding. It would seem that speed humps acted as moats making it all worse.

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/267.jpg

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/268.jpg

With more very heavy rain forecast for tomorrow its looking like things may get worse.

[Reid Malenfant]

I have seen worse, though not here I might add :)

Best of luck that you don't get washed away Neil... While I have seen lots of standing water in my street, I don't recall it being so deep all over :eek:

Once had my garage flooded from the fire brigade testing a hydrant :lol:

[aquapiranha]

Hi Neil. Glad you didn't get flooded like some of the other people have just seen on the news! It seems parts of Belfast and Lisburn are quite bad at the moment with more rain forecast. We nearly had the river Roe breach the levee the other day, it was really high. I sincerely hope you do not have any further problems.

Steve

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Neil. Glad you didn't get flooded like some of the other people have just seen on the news! It seems parts of Belfast and Lisburn are quite bad at the moment with more rain forecast. We nearly had the river Roe breach the levee the other day, it was really high. I sincerely hope you do not have any further problems.

Steve

Thank you Steve.

The water levels are down, I just went on a tour of the area to see how bad it was and still is, and thankfully it looks like its clearing ok now. Some people close to where we are have had their homes flooded so it was a close one for us.

[Spectral Morn]

I have seen worse, though not here I might add :)

Best of luck that you don't get washed away Neil... While I have seen lots of standing water in my street, I don't recall it being so deep all over :eek:

Once had my garage flooded from the fire brigade testing a hydrant :lol:

Thank you Mark :cool:

[Puffin]

Is it worth investing in some kind of shuttering behind the gate to the same height as the wall? I have seen these things on the coast where you slot a piece of wood in to prevent water ingress? Does this happen very often?

Rob.

[sq225917]

You want to do what i did. Move house to the top of a steep hill.

[Spectral Morn]

Is it worth investing in some kind of shuttering behind the gate to the same height as the wall? I have seen these things on the coast where you slot a piece of wood in to prevent water ingress? Does this happen very often?

Rob.

Yes I think that is exactly what we need. This is the first time the area I live in has flooded in 38years. There are bits of Belfast that do flood regularly but where I am at so far has been ok until yesterday. The problem was a slow moving thunderstorm that just dumped on the whole city for hours.

I have sandbags now and I am as ready as I can be. Hopefully latter will be fine.

According to the news the midlands is getting hit at the minute, one man has died in a flood....terrible :(

[Spectral Morn]

You want to do what i did. Move house to the top of a steep hill.

Indeed.

[bobbasrah]

Is it worth investing in some kind of shuttering behind the gate to the same height as the wall? I have seen these things on the coast where you slot a piece of wood in to prevent water ingress? Does this happen very often?

Rob.

Stoplogs they are called Rob, and they can work, but sandbags are easier and a whole lot more flexible to deploy, but would get scant attention until needed.
NIW are getting a real roasting from the politicians over this and other incidents, but there is a limit to what they can do I'm afraid.

That flooding could have been a whole lot worse if it backed up sufficiently to overflow the toilet or a low floor drain in the house.

The flood is quiescent which means that the drainage system is in overload, probably because it exceeded it's design max for rainfall somewhere up the line. The only solution is storage, and sorry Neil, your street is that storage for now until somebody figures out where else to store it (which can be very expensive). Ask them to do a storm event analysis for the rainfall rate to see where the line has capacity upstream (it IS possible) and they can control the flow to prevent downstream flooding from there.

[Puffin]

Stoplogs they are called Rob

Aah. I've only ever used Imodium;)

[Spectral Morn]

Stoplogs they are called Rob, and they can work, but sandbags are easier and a whole lot more flexible to deploy, but would get scant attention until needed.
NIW are getting a real roasting from the politicians over this and other incidents, but there is a limit to what they can do I'm afraid.

That flooding could have been a whole lot worse if it backed up sufficiently to overflow the toilet or a low floor drain in the house.

The flood is quiescent which means that the drainage system is in overload, probably because it exceeded it's design max for rainfall somewhere up the line. The only solution is storage, and sorry Neil, your street is that storage for now until somebody figures out where else to store it (which can be very expensive). Ask them to do a storm event analysis for the rainfall rate to see where the line has capacity upstream (it IS possible) and they can control the flow to prevent downstream flooding from there.

It had in fact just begun to do that very thing when the rain started to ease off.

Part of the problem in cities these days is too many hard surfaces that prevent rainfall being absorbed into the ground so it floods instead, though if the ground is saturated even that won't help. An other issue is too many new developments, particularly apartments overloading the drainage system.

So far no rain here so I am putting my system back together. If I have to move it at least I know I can now and quickly.

[Gmanuk101]

here in Scotland we call that Tuesday

[brian2957]

I had a very similar experience last Friday Neil . The river behind my house burst its' banks and flooded my street . We phoned the police , fire brigade and council who all said that they would not act until water entered the houses. Water became so deep that small cars could not get through . But an idiot in a large 4x4 did get through at high speed creating a massive wave. Fortunately after a few worrying hours the water did not enter the houses , saved by just a few inches and a fire engine pump when we begged them to attend .
Brian.

[Spectral Morn]

I had a very similar experience last Friday Neil . The river behind my house burst its' banks and flooded my street . We phoned the police , fire brigade and council who all said that they would not act until water entered the houses. Water became so deep that small cars could not get through . But an idiot in a large 4x4 did get through at high speed creating a massive wave. Fortunately after a few worrying hours the water did not enter the houses , saved by just a few inches and a fire engine pump when we begged them to attend .
Brian.

I know how you must have felt, there is very little as horrific than watching the water creep closer and closer.

I was pretty shocked re not getting help from anyone, Police, Firebrigade, Water services etc, no one. The biggest outcry about all of this is exactly that no help. From the stories all over our local news this was the story for everyone. Local politicians had little success either trying to get help for their voters. Whole thing was a mess.

[Spectral Morn]

here in Scotland we call that Tuesday

Lol Here in Northern Ireland we call that a week and the sun a UFO :lol:

The sky is darkening here and I can hear thunder in the distance..... hopefully it will stay in the distance.

[RichB]

here in Scotland we call that Tuesday

:lol:

Never had it that bad where we live but of course i guess whether i could save the hifi would be dependent upon being at home at the time. We had a leaky roof recently as some builders cracked one of our tiles and heading up a ladder late at night with buckets to stop water comin thru light fittings is a pain in the a.

[bobbasrah]

Part of the problem in cities these days is too many hard surfaces that prevent rainfall being absorbed into the ground so it floods instead, though if the ground is saturated even that won't help. An other issue is too many new developments, particularly apartments overloading the drainage system.


Sorry Neil that is what i was getting at.
No development with impermeable area should be allowed to discharge into the system without it being modelled to ensure it could handle it or with additional works put in place by the Developer to mitigate it. Chances are it was a combined sewer as well, so it becomes a public health issue.
South of the border the volume of storage under car parks for complexes, supermarkets and offices (with what look like stacked beer crates) built in the last 20 years are just mind blowing, but they work. Huge areas discharge to a rough tank under the car park with a tiny 6" pipe out the end. They never ever flood.

As to your assumption that the ground was saturated under your street - I'd bet it was bone dry under that bitmac with a tiny area of grass feeding into it. If the street were porous tarmac or paviors I suspect you may have been pleasantly surprised what all the fuss was about elsewhere.:D
Lobby your street and get the MP and Council on it regards resurfacing......;)

[Mike]

I think it's happening here... absolute biblical downpour!

My new drive will never be finished at this rate, it's been eight bloody days already! :steam:

[Spectral Morn]

I think it's happening here... absolute biblical downpour!

My new drive will never be finished at this rate, it's been eight bloody days already! :steam:

Fingers crossed Mike it stops and doesn't flood you, or anyone else out.

[hifinutt]

nightmare, glad all is safe

[Spectral Morn]

nightmare, glad all is safe

Thanks Phil

Yes the waters receded and so far so good :)

[Beechwoods]

Really glad it's looking OK now Neil.

[Marco]

+1

It's really disconcerting to see the distressing problems other people were/are having with these floods, when you've experienced hardly more than a shower yourself..... :(

Marco.

[DaveK]

I think it's happening here... absolute biblical downpour!
My new drive will never be finished at this rate, it's been eight bloody days already! :steam:

Never mind the drive, that can be finished any time, just concentrate on keeping your kit dry, then the furniture, and if you can, your feet ;) .
Hope it's stopped by now.
Dave.

[Spectral Morn]

Really glad it's looking OK now Neil.

Thank you Nick :)

[Spectral Morn]

+1

It's really disconcerting to see the distressing problems other people were/are having with these floods, when you've experienced hardly more than a shower yourself..... :(

Marco.

Thank you Marco

Indeed many came off far worse than I did. The worst that happened to me was hurting my back carting heavy gear about and sandbags.

So far since Wed the rain has been normal where I am at but I see plenty on the mainland now getting it bad :(

Hopefully the Jet Stream will move back to its normal position soon.

[RichB]

this happened half a mile down the road from me...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVIyi5NudLG0C_Rf0hIcYoOhWnpQ0sK NVwVwCiDLKXLaiEA3NMmw

Mrs B walked about 5 mile home from work that day as all the public transport was off. I've never seen the like in all my years here... The next day the council were out clearing gutters like they probably should have done several winters ago!

[wee tam]

same in washington , i was lucky but third and fourth house along from me got hit bad , 3 feet of water in the garden , coming in doors and windows , everyone mucked in with buckets etc , but it was p#ssing against the wind , when fourth houses' stuff was damaged beyond saving , they simply opened the front and rear doors and let it run straight through , bloody nightmare , worse rain i have ever seen

[Spectral Morn]

this happened half a mile down the road from me...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVIyi5NudLG0C_Rf0hIcYoOhWnpQ0sK NVwVwCiDLKXLaiEA3NMmw

Mrs B walked about 5 mile home from work that day as all the public transport was off. I've never seen the like in all my years here... The next day the council were out clearing gutters like they probably should have done several winters ago!

That's bad. Don't start me about gutter cleaning.

[Spectral Morn]

same in washington , i was lucky but third and fourth house along from me got hit bad , 3 feet of water in the garden , coming in doors and windows , everyone mucked in with buckets etc , but it was p#ssing against the wind , when fourth houses' stuff was damaged beyond saving , they simply opened the front and rear doors and let it run straight through , bloody nightmare , worse rain i have ever seen

That is awful, at least you dodged the bullet but for those who live round you who did not :(

[chris@panteg]

OMG , more flood warnings ! Not again , this is surely the worst summer in living memory ? I hope folks have had sufficient warning this time ?

[StanleyB]

Looking quite poor at Silverstone (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live-video/p00vnl56)as well for the F1 practice.

[DaveK]

Looking quite poor at Silverstone (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live-video/p00vnl56)as well for the F1 practice.

Yep, my son and his GF are there, under canvas for the weekend :eek: :mental: while we look after his dog. He's phoned us twice to say that the camping site is like the Somme - he had to be towed in to the camp site and has told us that, instead of collecting the dog on Sunday evening, he does not expect to get towed off the campsite now until Monday morning.
The weekend trip was a birthday present from the GF :lol: - I expect him to remember it for a long time ;) .

[goraman]

What's going on with all the water over there?
I hope no one looses there home or worse to it.
We have not had any rain at all over the summer, looks like it all went to you guys.
Are any of you sand bagging? I would also get rolls of landscape plastic,a large staple gun,roofing nails and strips of 1X1. If it gets worse you can seal up your home.

[StanleyB]

It's not as bad as it looks. The water companies declared a drought about two months ago and I think that it is still illegal to use a hose pipe in many parts of the country. We still got some way to go before they declare it a disaster.

[Joe]

What's going on with all the water over there?
.

According to the BBC, it's coming from the USA. Mind you, the BBC are a bunch of pinko libruls, so we don't pay them no heed.

[Marco]

Are any of you sand bagging?

Yes, but she won't sit still long enough for me to fit it over her head.

Marco.

[prestonchipfryer]

Yes, but she won't sit still long enough for me to fit it over her head.

Marco.


Get a bigger bag, they don't usually complain as much and some are really grateful.

[prestonchipfryer]

Some pictures of the floods in Weymouth. The car park is the site for one of the Olympic car parks.

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/floods.jpg

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/flood.jpg

[Jonboy]

That looks bad one of our camping buddies comes from Bridport and that has been badly hit as well.
We spent the weekend in a caravan on a campsite near Fordingbridge Hants, it never stopped raining all day Friday and all day Saturday, the sun came out just enough on Sunday to enable us to tow the caravan off site but there was still an inch or two of water over the entire field, i gave up wearing shoes and just wondered around in my crocs and hosed my feet down when we departed, left my wellies at home :doh:.

Nearly got thrown off the site Saturday night as the people in their wet tents did not see the humour of us playing cds at 1 in the morning from our cosy dry caravans, we were enjoying ourselves anyway with lots red wine and cheese, boring lot i say its thier loss they could of joined in :eyebrows:

We had a good excuse as it was supposed to be our friends wedding day but his girlfriend decided to leave him the week before for no apparent reason so we were toasting his new found freedom or something like that.

Here's the cd we got into trouble with anyway

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0002/976/MI0002976668.jpg?partner=allrovi.com