Flood Action Week

Flood Action Week is a chance for all of us to help people understand their flood risk and take practical steps to plan, prepare and think about how they can better protect their homes.

For me, it’s also a time to think about the people who have faced flooding and what it’s meant to them.

Over the years, I’ve talked to thousands of people whose lives have been turned upside down by flooding. Their personal stories stay with me. We sometimes talk about ‘them’ or ‘they’ but every person has a home, a family and a lifetime of memories.

Flooding can leave people traumatised long after the water has gone.

This week I asked members of a village flood group what had upset them most about being flooded. As I’ve heard so many times before, it is always the loss of sentimental items – the things that no insurance claim can replace.

I’ll list just some of them and, as you read, take a moment to imagine how you would feel if it happened to you: 

John lost big art books which were school prizes.

Cee lost a personal calendar made for her by her Grandchildren – it was full of their photos.

Emma lost her children’s schoolwork from primary school and their paintings and drawings (just like me!)

George lost 30 years’ worth of non-digital photos.

Jess lost handwritten letters from departed loved ones, her childhood dolls house and a sewing machine which her mother had been given for her 21st birthday.

Howard lost his four daughters’ schoolwork, reports, childhood art and letters from the 1970’s -2000’s and also British handmade art items from his former shop from 25 years ago – plus many old antique building tools he used in the early 70’s until he retired.

Joan lost some cherished books her granny gave her over 70 years ago.

Beth lost an old family bible, which had gone down the generations.

Helen lost photos of her boys as babies, greetings cards from significant birthdays.

Claire said that the flood happened just after Christmas and her children lost all their new toys and their beloved fancy dress box.

Jess also lost Christmas gifts and sentimental Christmas decorations too.

Abi’s Mum lost her most treasured horsehair-filled, antique drop armed sofa. It was badly filled with muddy water and sludge. Her Mum was terribly upset.

Almost all of them lost their cars too.

One 10-year-old boy from the village has spent his last three birthdays in three different houses due to being flooded twice in quick succession.

Hearing these heartbreaking stories makes me more determined to continue raising awareness of flood risk. But’s let’s reflect for a moment and think about what this family – and so many others – are living with. Imagine the constant worry that it could all happen again this winter. What a way to live.

Every flood affects people and families just like our own. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. This Flood Action Week, let’s remember that people are at the heart of it all.

Copyright: Mary Long-Dhonau, October 2026