Rain stop play

Hi

Near where I live a lot of houses and businesses have been flooded as two major storms have hit the Calder Valley the last two weekends. This is the third time in 10 years that the Calder Valley has been flooded. The last two have been serious with many people been displaced, which is not a good feeling. The boxing day flood of 2015 caused serve damage, where in Mytholmroyd they experience water levels over 4m in height. This was and still is the highest level experienced. This is only 11 miles from my home.

Don't worry about me as I live 170m above sea level and it will take epic biblical floods for my house to be under water. I remember that day so well as the water table was so high that water was coming out from the back of my garage.

After the 2015 floods people was outraged and flood defenses was promised and partially built. Two weeks ago a vicious storm hit and produces over 100mm of rainfall in 24hours. It totally overwhelmed the flood defense system and town and villages over the valley were once again flooded .

There was 2 problems; the flood defences where no complete and the amount of rainfall was very high. A lethal cocktail. 3 years in the undertaking and still the defences was not complete. Why?

Because the original contractor made a serious mistake and a new contractor had to rectify the mistake. I do not think they would have matter, as the amount of rainfall was too large.

For those who do not know the terrain. The valley has some steep hills above them that funnel rainwater to the rivers and the water level can rise very quickly.

What is your flood defense on your business? Can it cope if a deluge is forecast?

Thanks and stay safe. It has been a wet February here in the UK.

Antonio