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‘I can’t stop crying’: Brechin residents still struggling six months after Storm Babet

Storm Babet hit in October last year and for some residents of the Angus town it's been 'absolute hell' ever since.

David Scott's home on Brechin's East Mill House Gardens more than six months on from the floods of Storm Babet.
David Scott's home on Brechin's East Mill House Gardens more than six months on from the floods of Storm Babet. Image: Kim Cessford.

Six months on from Storm Babet, many flooded homes in Brechin are still far from habitable.

And while some residents are looking forward to getting back into their dried-out, reinstated houses, many are living in fear and dread of what the future might bring.

They claim there’s little being done to reassure them their homes won’t flood yet again – and little being done to improve flood prevention.

Having lost everything during that fateful weekend in October last year, it’s been a hard slog and an emotional challenge for senior charge nurse June Soutar.

June Soutar's home in East Mill Road is still uninhabitable. She is standing in a gutted kitchen.
June Soutar’s home in East Mill Road is still uninhabitable. Image: Kim Cessford.

June, 60, left her ground-floor flat on Brechin’s East Mill Road on the night of the flood, on October 19, believing she could return the following day.

But when she did return, she found everything was ruined, including treasured photos of her children.

Meanwhile, clothing, furniture and carpets were covered in muddy, contaminated water and her late father’s car was a write-off.

June Soutar's flat was destroyed by flooding in Brechin. The hallway shows signs of flooding
June Soutar’s flat was destroyed by flooding in Brechin. Image: Supplied.

With nowhere to go, June slept on her daughter’s sofa for six weeks before booking into an Airbnb, and then into a rental property in Brechin in January.

“It’s been absolute hell,” said June.

“I’ve not been able to work since the flood. It’s taken a big toll on my mental and physical health.

“My statutory sick pay stopped so I’ve no income.

“I’ve a responsible job as a senior staff nurse Stonehaven Community Hospital.

“I need to be able to concentrate and function, as it’s peoples lives we’re taking care of.”

June Soutarin the middle of room with no carpet and doors and boxes leaning against the walls
June Soutar is upset with the way her flood claim is progressing. Image: Kim Cessford.

June says her home is not yet completely dry or stripped out.

She claims her insurance company will not remove plaster covered in black mould, and that mould is travelling up to the ceiling.

June was brought to tears

Recent contact from her insurance company brought her to tears.

June was told her home had “pre-existing” rising damp and that all repair work must stop and all fittings be reinstalled – even though they are flood damaged.

“I’m devastated. I can’t stop crying,” said June.

“I don’t have money to repair this. That’s why you have insurance, is it not? But it looks like I won’t be going home any time soon.

“The drying company was advised to remove the equipment as it’s apparently nothing to do with flooding, which is simply not right.”

The foundations of June's home in Brechin are visible beneath what remains of the floorboards.
The foundations of June’s home in Brechin are visible. Image: Kim Cessford.

June is also upset at what she claims is a lack of communication from Angus Council.

She said: “There’s nothing from the council about what measures are to be put in place to prevent this happening again.

“The only thing is that they’ve started to mend the listed wall beside the bridge, as apparently that’s more important than our homes, and livelihoods.

“I feel – what’s the point if we live in fear of this happening again?”

Black mould is still on the walls of June Soutar's Brechin home -six months on from Storm Babet.
Black mould is still on the walls of June Soutar’s Brechin home -six months on from Storm Babet. Image: Kim Cessford.

Hayley’s Storm Babet story

Hayley Duggan said she’s been “very lucky” with her insurance company getting her home on East Mill Road dried out quickly and repaired.

It’s being decorated and flooring is being laid – and she reckons she, her husband and their five-year-old son could be moved back within a month.

Members of a Coastguard Rescue Team up to their waists in floodwater in Brechin during Storm Babet
Members of a Coastguard Rescue Team in Brechin during Storm Babet. Image: Andrew Milligan.

However Hayley – who works for Voluntary Action Angus – is worried about the future, anticipating she will feel “unsafe” in her own home.

“I’m super-anxious that in a few months we could go through this hell all over again,” she said.

“I’m going to feel so unsafe, knowing nothing has been done to keep my home better protected.”

Brechin resident ‘scared to go home’

Middleton Park resident Leanne Wood echoed Hayley’s fears.

Leanne, a senior team leader in a care home, said: “It’s all good getting our houses repaired but they should be repairing and upgrading the flood defence or this will happen again.

“Many of us are scared to go home. What is being put in place to help us? My mental health is awful. I’ve lost so much sleep.”

Floodwater outside Laura's home in Brechin. The water is halfway towards the front door handle.
Flooding on River Street during Storm Babet. Image: Andrew Milligan

Leanne added that she will be “river watching”, anxiously.

“We weren’t given flood guards. Nothing was done to support us. We’re worried we’re going to lose everything again.”

Electricity bills of £4,000 due to drying equipment

David and Isla Scott were trapped in the attic with their two dogs as their home on East Mill House Gardens was engulfed by rising flood waters.

The couple were eventually rescued by boat, but it was a terrifying three-hour wait.

Since then, they’ve been living in rental accommodation in Brechin.

And retired engineer David says the couple have racked up electricity bills of £4,000 thanks to drying equipment running 24/7.

David Scott's flooded home has been completely stripped out.
David Scott’s flooded home has been completely stripped out. Six months after Storm Babet, he’s looking forward to returning. Image: Kim Cessford.

“Insurance said they’d settle us once the house is dried out,” he said.

“There was some amount of power being used, so much so that a power socket was starting to crack and melt.”

David says he’s unware of any measures being taken to prevent such flooding happening again.

David Scott throws ruined carpets and flooring into a pile outside his flooded home.
David Scott throws ruined carpets and flooring into a pile outside his flooded home. Image: Mhairi Edwards.

“It’s taking ages for anything to happen. We’re lucky our insurance company has been good.

“People have been in to check moisture levels, and there’s a walkway so we can access parts of the house.

‘It’ll be good to get home’

Ian and Jane Stewart’s house on River Street was among the worst hit by flooding.

However, the couple hope to be back in their home by June.

Ian Stewart in the kitchen of his flooded River Street home in Brechin.
Ian Stewart in his flooded River Street home. Image: Mhairi Edwards.

Ian, 82, has shelled out £2,400 in electricity bills to dry the place out but he hopes to claim this on insurance.

“The builders are in at the moment, so it’ll be good to get back home,” he said.

Devalued River Street home

Euan Clark’s ground-floor flat on River Street was wrecked by the flood, with contaminated water almost reaching light switches.

He was renting the property from his dad, John, who had inherited it from his parents.

Euan Clark inside his mud-covered River Street flat in the days after Storm Babet.
Euan Clark in his mud-covered River Street flat in the days after Storm Babet. Image: Paul Reid.

The family reckoned it would cost too much for them to get it back to the way it was – so they put it on the market for £15,0000.

It had been valued at around £55,000 a few years ago.

Council says Storm Babet flooding recovery ‘ongoing’

A spokesman for Angus Council said: “Angus Council and its partners have worked hard to help the whole of Angus and especially Brechin to recover from the unprecedented amount of damage caused by Storm Babet.

“The recovery is ongoing and will be for some time with work underway in many areas.

The front of houses in Brechin with floodwater near the windowsills after Storm Babet
As well as forcing people to flee their homes in Brechin, Storm Babet also caused large-scale power blackouts. Image: PA.

“Residents can receive updates and support via our drop-in service every Thursday morning at the Crickety, via engage.angus.gov.uk/brechin or by phoning 03452 777 778.

“In terms of road and infrastructure repairs, we have claimed £6.5m from the Belwin Scheme and are still working on road and bridge repairs across the whole of Angus.”

Brechin Buccaneers

Local charity Brechin Buccaneers has been working to help flood victims with financial support.

Grant Hutchison, community engagement manager, said: “People have lost everything.

“Some aren’t insured, and some don’t want to move back.

“For some, there’s a heightened sense of trepidation and fear when it rains. For many, the uncertainty is overwhelming.”

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