Weather

[Waka]

There we were the other night watching the tele when we heard a bang, we didn't think anything of it, just the wind making strange noises.

Started to lock up for the night and SHMBO said that half there conservatory roof was missing, wheat a shock.
Well, I couldn't do anything at night so just left it. I managed to move the furniture out the way of the rain, so that was saved.

The next morning I got a better idea of the damage and luckily found the missing pieces in the neighbours garden.
Phoned up the insurance company and they couldn't have been more helpful. More helpful than trying to get someone round to make the conservatory waterproof, in the end I did it myself, it took 4 hours but its looks more sturdy now than it ever did. Surprising what you can achieve with off cuts and self tapers.

We had decided a few months ago that as the conservatory is 18 years old we would replace it in June this year, so I don't know whether the storms were an omen.

Anybody else had damage due to the weather?

 

[Grahamshed]

Sorry to hear about that Waka. I have always wanted to live by the coast but am beginning to feel I am better off inland. Not been to bad here.

 

[Harbo]

Have you got a new for old policy Tony?

We had water dripping through our front lounge ceiling the other night when it was blowing a gale. We had a small single story extension built about 20 odd yrs ago with a tiled sloping roof. I was always suspicious that the lead flashing was on the small side and think the wind was driving the rain water under it? New wider flashing to be fixed. Decorating the room was in the pipeline, just glad I hadn't started it?
My daughter's car was damaged by her next door neighbours fence being blown onto it - did £800 of damage which had to be claimed through her car insurance as it was deemed "An Act of God"!
And my ex SIL, who lives a few miles away, has 2" of ground water and flooded Septic Tank in his lounge!
We are fairly high up (on the edges of the South Downs) but lots of houses around living in villages with "Spring" or "Bourne" in their names are finding out why they were called that.

Rod

 

[hanser]

Waka

Good to hear that you got yourself sorted and no serious damage. Here in the East midlands we've escaped the worst of the weather ( of course, I may regret saying that :shock: ). Plenty of wind and rain and some localised flooding. I feel so sorry for the folks around the Somerset levels - homes, farms, businesses suffering.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Sorry to hear about that Waka. I have always wanted to live by the coast but am beginning to feel I am better off inland. Not been to bad here.

Given whats going on in my garden I'm toying with moving to the apex of Mount Ararat!

 

[Harbo]

With the pressure for new homes, I also feel sorry for people who have bought houses built in Flood Plains.
A few yrs ago I built a Link/Distribution Road on the outskirts of Reading for a major housing development on a well known flood plain. We built the road on embankments 1m above the highest recorded flood level with flood relief tunnels underneath - the houses were built at original ground level!!
They are prime candidates for flooding?

Rod

 

[Baldhead]

I'm an ex fireman, I've seen too many people in tears because their houses have flooded, I was even on one occasion threatened with physical violence when we removed a pump away from outside someone's front door, thing is another house owner was shouting at us to stop pumping because he lived further downstream and we were just creating problems for him! It was understandable when you saw the damage, my heart goes out to all those who are suffering because of the flooding, it really is soul destroying.

Baldhead

 

[Grahamshed]

But why on earth do they build normal houses on flood plains ?
In my nearest town ( Abingdon on Thames ) there is a block of 'sheltered accommodation' flats built next to a stream on a known flood plain. They have built it on stilts so the technology is commonplace and it looks good. Not out of place at all.
If they can do it then it can be done for houses as well.

 

[tekno.mage]

I really feel for anyone who has suffered flooding in the recent bad weather - it must be absolutely horrible to have your home or business flooded. I'm lucky enough to live on high ground away from any streams so only suffer the effects of high winds in storny weather - and so far this year we have been reasonably lucky there too - just a few slipped slates on an old barn roof and a small chunk taken out of the plastic trim on the side of the car where a piece of flying chimney pot hit it!

 

[Waka]

Rod

Yes I'll have no problem getting the insurance company to do their thing. I'actually changing the design of the new one, having a pitched roof instead of sloping, so I guess they'll just give me the money, that's what' been intimated to me.

Really I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, I really feel for those poor people that have been flooded time after time, irrespective of where they live.
I don't think it's just building on flood planes, it's ripping up trees and hedges, concreting over parts of the countryside that plays a part. A lot of households will find it very difficult to get any type of house insurance after this, and they'll have no chance of selling their property.
So yes, with the little damage I have I' very grateful.

 

[wellywood]

Sorry to hear about the damage to your home Waka but good news that no-one was injured. Coming from windy Wellington (where the seagulls fly backwards) I know what damage gales can do. Still, hopefully you'll be getting a new conservatory courtesy of the insurance so I guess it's an ill wind...

 

[Waka]

I was in Wellington about 10 years ago, and if I remember correctly it was very wet.
Probably won't get all the money for a new conservatory, but I'm sure there will be a chunk towards it.

 

[wellywood]

No change there then. Middle of summer and it's pouring down. Thank God for the workshop

 

[Harbo]

There was a TV programme I watched where they were blaming our ancestors for chopping down the trees on on hills and mountains and turning into sheep farmers which completely altered the environment and allowed fast rain water run off.
Some areas in the North are planting trees, damming rivers, building wooden dams and creating ponds to slow down run off. One village has not had floods ever since this was carried out.
For the last several years, road and development areas surface water drainage is supposed to be carried out to the SuDS protocols - where water run off is directed to ditches, soakaways and balancing ponds i.e. retained locally to soak into the ground and not piped etc to streams and rivers. Thereby reducing impact elsewhere.

Rod

 

[Sheptonphil]

On a trip to Yandles today I went into the area of the floods on the Somerset levels which are only 10 miles fron here.

You can only but imagine the heartache for both the residents and farmers having had to deal with the enormity of the floodwater which has never in living memory been anywhere near this bad.

Nothing can be done to help them at the moment, but when the waters start to subside I will be offering help in any way I can to help clear the mess left behind.

Phil

 

[Waka]

Good on you Phil, they'll need all the help they can get.
It's still really here but the wind has changed directions which is a great help.

 

[Grahamshed]

There was a TV programme I watched where they were blaming our ancestors for chopping down the trees on on hills and mountains and turning into sheep farmers which completely altered the environment and allowed fast rain water run off.
Some areas in the North are planting trees, damming rivers, building wooden dams and creating ponds to slow down run off. One village has not had floods ever since this was carried out.
For the last several years, road and development areas surface water drainage is supposed to be carried out to the SuDS protocols - where water run off is directed to ditches, soakaways and balancing ponds i.e. retained locally to soak into the ground and not piped etc to streams and rivers. Thereby reducing impact elsewhere.

Rod

You have to admire our ancestors, they certainly made their presence felt :roll: :roll:

 

[Harbo]

Although nowhere as bad as some areas, things are getting worse in Hampshire especially in the River flood plains. The River Test in Romsey is causing floods and the Itchen in Winchester. Even away from the rivers, several roads are closed due to flooding from adjacent land and diversions set up.
More rain and gales forecasted so it's only going to get worse!

Rod

 

[wellywood]

What's the latest on the flooding situation? We hear little about it here. Has it got worse or has the clean-up started?

BTW. The last week over here has been 30C+ with high humidity and little breeze to soothe a fevered brow. The ice cubes in my G&T were melting almost as soon as they were in the glass.
(Ducks and runs for cover )

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

It's slowly subsiding now as the rain has reduced in volume and frequency but by no means stopped altogether. There's more forecast next week but its better than it has been. Now welly....pls no jokes about the weather, I can't take any more after that song n dance classic