The flood-ravaged village of Comrie has a long way to go until it comes to terms with the floods that devastated homes in late 2012.
Eerily quiet at night, with many homes still empty and in darkness, the community is holding its breath for fear of further bad times ahead.
A £1 million flood defence scheme is being rushed into operation by Perth and Kinross Council and it cannot come soon enough for householders.
It should reduce the risk of future flooding to an estimated “once in one hundred years”, and there is the hope that this will placate nervous insurance companies.
With heavy snowfall predicted in the coming days and weeks, however, the spectre of yet more damage continues to hang over residents.
Comrie and District Community Council secretary Sandra McRitchie lives in Tay Avenue, which was badly affected by the flood waters that hit Comrie in August and November last year.
She told The Courier that many residents, particularly the elderly, were still “devastated” by what had happened to the village and their homes.
“A number of residents have been decanted out of the village to Crieff and have taken very badly to it,” Mrs McRitchie said.
“The village is very quiet at present and there are a lot of people who are still very upset and very worried. It is very eerie at times.
“There are houses with no back walls, houses with no lights on, and it is simply not as happy a community as it used to be.”
Mrs McRitchie added: “With bad weather coming, there is the fear that snow melt coming down off the hills could lead to further flooding.
“Everyone is quite apprehensive and there is still a great deal of anger and upset that this has happened. That fear will not begin to go away until the flood defences are in place.”
Mrs McRitchie said that, nonetheless, residents were working hard to keep the Comrie community spirit alive and well.
“I see residents who have been moved out of the village on the streets on a regular basis. I ask them how it is that they are back and they simply tell me that this is where they live.”
Many householders were still coming to terms with the damage caused by a flood on August 27 last year when the River Ruchill burst its banks for a second time in November.
Hundreds of residents had to be evacuated after the Water of Ruchill burst its banks and swept into more than 100 homes. The village’s Dalginross, Camp Road, Bank Road, Tay Avenue, Glebe Road and Duke Road areas were all affected.
The flooding left many villagers angry at the lack of action on the part of Perth and Kinross Council and its partners, although the local authority is now pushing ahead with plans for flood prevention measures.
The council has also confirmed that it is keen to help householders through any difficulties they may be having with insurance companies.
Insurers often consider the risk of one-in-75-years flooding when assessing premiums, and the council hopes to be able to offer assurances that the new defences will reduce the risk to Comrie to once in 100 years.
A spokesman told The Courier: “The council can confirm it has been asked to provide a letter to assist residents contacting their insurers following the recent flooding in Comrie.
“We are willing to provide this letter, which would confirm that we have undertaken flood mitigation measures for the Water of Ruchill and that we are confident at this time that the measures will mitigate similar flooding events on this watercourse.”