Flood recovery continues - two months on

Two months on since the Boxing Day floods the recovery operation continues for hundreds of residents in Salford.

Today (February 26) marks two months since the River Irwell burst its banks flooding more than 400 homes and businesses in the Lower Broughton area.

Around 300 Salix Homes properties were affected by the floods on the Riverside and Spike Island estates and the John Street area, and the recovery process to repair the damaged homes is now well underway.

Lee Sugden, our chief executive, said: “It’s now two months since the Boxing Day floods, which brought heartache and devastation to hundreds of our tenants in the Lower Broughton area.

“Since the floods struck we have been out on the ground providing all the support, information and assistance we can to help our tenants, many of whom have seen their lives changed by the floods.

“We are now entering the next stage of the recovery process and our partner contractors are now on site delivering the repairs programme to around 300 properties, which were affected.

“While it’s a long road ahead our priority remains to provide all the help, support and assistance we can to our tenants at this difficult time.

“Sadly around 85% of our tenants did not have contents insurance which makes the journey to recovery all the more difficult, but it’s been heart-warming to see the community rally round and support each other in this time of need and the people of Salford have displayed that Dunkirk spirit that they are known for.”

Following the initial ‘drying out’ phase, Salix Homes’ principle contractors Emanuel Whittaker, Seddon and A Connolly Ltd, are now on site to begin the repair work, which is being carried out in a phased approach in order to keep disruption to a minimum.

We have also launched ourFinancial Support Package for affected tenants to help with any additional energy costs and disruption to their homes.

Mr Sugden added: “Our Financial Support Package is available for tenants while the repairs are carried out to their properties, and we hope this will go some way towards helping them rebuild their lives.

“We are working very closely with our contractors to ensure minimum disruption while this essential repair work is completed and I’d like to thank tenants for their patience at this time.

“I would urge anyone who has not yet claimed the Financial Support Package, or who has any questions about the repairs process to contact us on 24-hours a day on 0800 218 2000, or drop into our Flood Support Centre on Heath Avenue, which is open on Fridays from 9am – 4:30pm.”

Case Study One

Life after the floods – Mark’s Story

A man who was rescued from his home during the Boxing Day floods has praised the people of Salford for ‘pulling together’ in times of need.

Salix Homes’ tenant Mark Kelly has been confined to a wheelchair for the past three-and-a-half years after being struck down with a rare virus and suffering a stroke which left him paralysed down his left hand side.

Mark, 48, was at his home at Myrtle Place, Lower Broughton, on Boxing Day when the River Irwell burst its banks.

He said: “My carer came to my house and he had his pants rolled up to his knees – he’d had to leave his car and walk through the water to get to me.

“I live right on the banks of the river and the water had come as high as the bottom of my window.

Some police officers and someone from Salix Homes came in and said we need to get you out of here as soon as possible.”

Father-of-four Mark was lifted into a temporary chair and carried out of his home through the flood waters to safety.

“The police and Jeanette fromSalix Homes were absolutely outstanding that night, I couldn’t have done without them,” he added.

Mark was taken to the emergency refuge at St Boniface’s Community Centre before Salix Homes arranged for him to stay in a hotel until he could return home.

His family and friends worked throughout the night to move his possessions and divert water away from the ground-floor flat as best they could and fortunately managed to save his specially-adapted electric wheelchair.

Mark, who is one of the few residents in the area to have contents insurance, still lost a number of his possessions in the floods including an electric armchair, clothes, a sound system and items of furniture.

He added: “Since it happened, there have been people coming round offering items and helping each other out. I’m a Salford lad born and bred and you cannot fault the community in Salford – they have been amazing and everyone has pulled together.

“The Salford community always sticks by each other and it showed it on that day.”

Salix Homes is now starting repair work on Mark’s home.

Mark said: “Salix Homes has been absolutely brilliant. There’s always someone there at the end of the phone if you need anything and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Case Study Two

Life after the floods – Elaine’s Story

A child-minder who saw her livelihood swept away by the Boxing Day floods has spoken of her gratitude to the Salford community which has rallied round to support her.

Salix Homes tenant Elaine Connolly was spending Christmas with her family at her home on Heath Avenue, Lower Broughton, when the River Irwell burst its banks on Boxing Day.

Mum-of-two Elaine, 50, said: “My husband and daughter were taking the dog for a walk when they rang me to say the river was getting very high, the next minute there was shouting that it was coming through the wall by the Rita House community centre.”

Elaine’s family and friends immediately came to the house to help them move what belongings they could upstairs, but Elaine’s thoughts turned to her elderly neighbour.

“There’s an old man over the road who has Alzheimer’s, so I went over to his house, but I couldn’t get near because the water was too deep,” she said.

“I was stood on the bank shouting for him to stay upstairs.”

Elaine’s elderly neighbour was eventually rescued by a policeman, but when Elaine returned to her own home the flood waters had risen significantly.

“When I got back to my house the water was near the top of my legs,” she added.

“They couldn’t open my door to let me in, so my family had to drag me in through the living room window.”

As the waters rose around them, Elaine’s grown up son and daughter took her pet dog, cat and rabbit to their homes for safety while Elaine and her husband John stayed at the property overnight.

The next day the clean-up operation began as Elaine counted the cost of her lost possessions. Elaine, who has worked as a child-minder from her home for the past eight years, lost all the children’s toys and outdoor play equipment she requires for her business, which were stored in a two sheds in her garden.

She said: “One side of my garden is set up for the kids, there was a Wendy house, bikes, everything. We have contents insurance, but unfortunately it didn’t include any of the children’s toys that I use for my business.

“We tried to clean it all up the day after, but it was no use because it was sewer water and then I was told I wouldn’t be able to continue running the business from my home.”

In desperation, Elaine posted an appeal on Facebook and has been overwhelmed with the response from the public who have donated a mountain of toys.

She added: “People have been coming to my house who I don’t know and giving me toys. There was even one woman driving round asking people where I lived – it’s been amazing and I can’t thank everyone enough.

“Riverview Primary School have let me have a room at the school so I can carry on with my business. I’m self-employed so if I don’t work I don’t make money, plus if I don’t work the parents whose children I look after can’t go to work either so they would have lost their jobs.

“I can’t believe how nice everyone has been – I’m so grateful.”

Salix Homes is now beginning the repairs process on Elaine’s home.

She said: “I know it’s going to be a long process, but I don’t think Salix Homes could have done any more for us than they have.

“People from Salix Homes came round the day after checking on us and I have a disability, so I have a stair lift fitted, and the first thing they did was check it was still working ok.”

Elaine, who is disabled and suffers from mobility issues, also lost her specially adapted car in the floods, but despite the devastation, she says it has helped bring the community together.

She added: “Despite everything the first thing that was going through my head was at least no one has been hurt.

“It’s been lovely to see the community support and people out helping each other. After it happened people were just walking round the estate saying ‘do you need anything’, ‘can I help’. It’s really boosted community spirit and brought people together.”