Let's not forget floods homeless

Exactly a year since floods devastated the region, the Mail today calls on everyone to remember those who still cannot return home.

Despite 12 months having past since the June 25 deluge a staggering 1,476 households in Hull and 750 in the East Riding are being forced to live in caravans and other temporary accommodation.

Today the Mail launches its Back Home campaign in a bid speed up the return of flood hit families to their properties.

The rising flood waters destroyed possessions, wrecked kitchens and ruined carpets in thousands of homes leaving them uninhabitable.

Some were forced to live upstairs in their own homes, but many others had to move into caravans as builders arrived to rip out damp plaster and sodden wiring.

But with so many people affected the workload on builders and insurance companies has been huge and has seen repairs drag on for months and months.

Now as the Government commissioned report into the flooding across the country, is made public its author, Sir Michael Pitt, has also called for action.

He said: “I want to see more done, I think the one thing that really sticks in my mind and continues to concern me is the fact several thousand families are still displaced from their homes and I think it's very hard to appreciate the degree of hardship that is involved.”

And his comments were echoed by one family still living in a cramped caravan in Hull.

The Harrison family who live in Wold Road, west Hull said “enough is enough” and say its now time they were able to move back into their house.

Joanne Harrison, 34 said: “Living in a caravan has been a total nightmare.

“I just can't wait to move back into the house, it is the only thing that is keeping me going.

“We've been told it could be about five weeks until the house is ready and that has given me my get up and go again, because before that I lost all motivation and was really down with it all.

“We got the caravan at the start because we thought we could cope for about six months, we never imagined we would still be here a year later.

“Unless people have been flooded themselves they just cannot possibly understand what it has been like for those who have."

Mail editor John Meehan, launching the campaign, said: “We need to make sure that as much as possible is done to help those still forced to live in caravans.

“A year has passed and we must not forget how they still suffering the effects of June 25 last year.”

And he added: “Everyone needs to work together to make sure those still affected by this disaster can at least get back into their own homes as soon as possible.”

City council leader Carl Minns said he supported the Mail's new campaign too.

He said: “It is important these people are not forgotten.

“There might be many reasons why they are not yet able to move back into their homes, but that shouldn't be an excuse.

“As a council we will be doing everything we can to offer help and support for people in this situation.”

And his comments were backed by East Riding Council leader Stephen Parnaby.

He said: “We will do anything in our power to get people back into their homes.

“I know first-hand how distressing it is to be flooded how important it is for the hundreds of families who are still displaced to get back in their houses as soon as possible.

“Most of those who are still displaced may be having problems with their insurance companies or getting their properties dried out.

“We will contact those companies and loss adjusters to try and help in any way we can and see if we can not sort any problems out.”

Meanwhile Floods recovery minister John Healey also backed the Mail's campaign.

He said: “Across the country there are still thousands of uninhabitable homes and we all need to do more to get these people back into their homes.

“By and large there has been a good response to what was an extraordinary event, but there have been delays and I have spoken to many people in Hull who are still not in a position to move back in.

“Living in a caravan for two weeks might be nice when you are on holiday but living in one for 12 months would test anyone's patience to the limit.

“That's why I welcome this campaign and some of the specific recommendations of today's Pitt Review into the floods which directly address this issue.”

Mr Healey said he would continue to put pressure on the building and insurance industries to play their part in making sure everything possible was being done to speed up the remainder of outstanding refurbishments.

Sir Michael Pitt, the author of today's report, said he wanted to encourage public debate over the issue.

“I think it is down to the leaders of councils and the chief executives of councils to be quite outspoken if they believe there are homes in their areas that could have been refurbished and could have been returned to their families when for reasons to do with inefficiency or ineffectiveness that is not taking place, and so I see local government in a key role here,” he said.

Among his recommendations is a call for the Government and the Association of British Insurers to work together to explore new technology capable of speeding up the drying out and stabilisation process involved in post-flood refurbishment work.

Are you still being forced to live in a caravan or temporary accommodation? If so, the Mail may be able to help you. Call the news desk on (01482) 315194 or email news@mailnewsmedia.co.uk. Alternatively, call reporters Joanna Hunter on (01482) 315178 or email j.hunter@mailnewsmedia.co.uk or Katy Wood on (01482) 315251 or k.wood@mailnewsmedia.co.uk