Angus & The Mearns

IN PICTURES: Storm Babet and the long road to recovery one year on

The events of October 19 2023 changed the lives of people in Brechin and beyond forever.

A young boy is carried to safety in Brechin during Storm Babet. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

By Graham Brown

October 19 2024, 6:01am

October 19 2024, 6:01am

October 19 2023.

A date forever etched in the history of the east of Scotland – and Brechin in particular.

The day Storm Babet struck.

Torrential rain and high winds brought chaos to communities – at a deadly cost.

Brechin was thrust into the national news spotlight as hundreds were forced from their homes by unprecedented levels in the River South Esk.

Many have still to return – and might never if some predictions turn out to be true.

But the devastation reached far beyond the boundaries of the historic cathedral city.

Upriver the floodwaters brought a repeat of previous misery for the people of Finavon, Tannadice and Justinhaugh.

Across the Aberdeenshire border, Marykirk was the scene of tragedy.

And while rural communities bore the brunt, urban suburbs like Monifieth saw Babet bring its worst flooding for 40 years.

Here, in pictures, we look at Babet’s destruction and the road to recovery in the 12 months since.

Brechin resident puts sandbags at door as Storm Babet approaches. — One Brechin residents puts sandbags outside his door as Brechin braces itself for Storm Babet. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Brechin OAP puts up floodgate ahead of Storm Babet. — River Street resident Ian Stewart at his garden floodgate which proved powerless against the might of Babet. Image: Ben MacDonald/DC Thomson

Emergency crews in Brechin on Thursday, October 19 2023 — Emergency crews in Brechin on the night of Thursday October 19. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Brechin evacuation during Storm Babet in 2023. — The evacuation of Brechin residents from their homes gets under way. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Brechin Storm Babet destruction. — The catastrophic scene Brechin woke to after the South Esk breached the town’s flood defences. Image: Paul Reid

Residents evacuated in Brechin during Storm Babet. — Hundreds of residents were rescued. Image: Paul Reid

Brechin has ended up underwater — River Street in Brechin was engulfed. Image: Paul Reid

Boats rescue Brechin residents — The Angus town was at the centre of a major multi-agency rescue operation. Image: Paul Reid

Brechin residents rescued during Storm Babet. — Brechin residents were rescued by boat during Storm Babet. Image: Paul Reid

Storm Babet clean-up in Brechin. — A worker picks up a fish from the street in the aftermath of Babet. Image: Paul Reid

Brechin resident led to safety during Strom Babet. — Laura Demontis and her family pet are led to safety. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

OAP rescued in Brechin during Storm Babet. — A resident is carried to safety. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA

Brechin Bridge wall destroyed by Storm Babet. — The Brechin Bridge wall on River Street collapsed. Image: Paul Reid

Bridgend Bar clear up in Brechin after Storm Babet. — The clear-up underway in Brechin’s Bridgend Bar. Image: Chris Ferguson/DC Thomson

Flooding at Justinhaugh Bridge, north of the A90. — Flooding at Justinhaugh Bridge, north of the A90. Image: Ivan Laird

The scale of flooding in Tannadice at first light on Friday. Image: Chris Noble

Flooding on Milton Place, Monifieth, during Storm Babet. Image: Poppy Watson/DC Thomson

Flooding at Finavon during Storm Babet. — Finavon beside the A90 was devastated by Storm Babet.

storm babet Brechin caravan park — Brenda and Alex Lamour in their flood-hit Brechin home. Image: Paul Reid

Bridge of Dun station flooded during Storm Babet. — The scene at Bridge of Dun station. Image: Caledonian Railway

Bridge of Dun destroyed by Storm Babet. — Damage to the historic Bridge of Dun spanning the River South Esk. Image: Paul Reid

Humza Yousaf at Brechin following Storm Babet. — Former First Minister Humza Yousaf speaking to emergency personnel on the banks of the South Esk a few days after the disaster. Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Brechin resident after Storm Babet wrecked his home. — David Scott looks through a ruined photo album in one of the bedrooms of his Brechin bungalow. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

Ian Stewart in his flooded River Street home. Image: Mhairi Edwards.

Finavon resident surveys Storm Babet flood damage. — Sandy Nicoll surveys the new damage to the Finavon home he had been due to move back into following a previous flood. Image: Graham Brown/DC Thomson

Storm Babet flood damage in Brechin. — Floodwater from the River South Esk left houses uninhabitable. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

East Mill caravan site in Brechin after Storm Babet. — Scott Murray of East Mill Caravan Site surveys the Storm damage. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

The road to recovery

Brechin pipe band practice in temporary home after Storm Babet. — City of Brechin Pipe Band members during practice in a temporary hall after being flooded out of the their home. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson

David Scott's flooded home has been completely stripped out. Six months after Storm Babet, he's looking forward to returning. Image: Kim Cessford. — David Scott’s surveying his stripped-out Brechin home. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson

Brechin fire crew open day after Storm Babet — Alfie McLeod (3) met Brechin firefighters Emma MacKinnon and Crew Commander John Cooper at a station open day where residents had a change to thank the local emergency services. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson

Brechin resident Ian Stewart return home after Storm Babet. — Ian Stewart at his garden gate on River Street on the eve of Storm Babet’s fist anniversary. Image: Paul Reid

Brechin residents home after Storm Babet. — David Scott is still to return to his home. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

June Soutar lost her job as a senior staff nurse as a result of stress and ill-health caused by Storm Babet. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

Bridge of Dun repairs after Storm Babet. — Repair work at Bridge of Dun is continuing. Image: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson

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