Floods

Some of you may know that we have been up against the elements from 23rd December hence why i have not been online much.

I thought i would share with you what we have been up too and some pics.

The property has the River Meon either side of it, the river splits up stream, over the years the landlord has build clay banks to the right of us and walls to the front and to the left. The drive has been raised with a ramp which has been built to a specific height to keep the water out from the road and field across the road. The double gates are bespoke to fit the width of the drive. At the end of the property there is a floodgate that splits the river again, with fields beyond that.

It all started on the 23rd December, which was a sleepless night for us. We had part of the roof come off in 2 places with the high winds, 1st part in the afternoon then the 2nd part at 11pm, the winds were 70 mph with gusts at 80 - 90 mph. At this point we got the vehicles out, bolted the gates and double layered them with sand bags from the inside. We were then up all night watching the river rise. The field opposite to us floods but at some point the river bursts its banks halfway across the field and runs across and back into the river the other side, but if the field is flooded, which it was, the river runs into the flooded part and it comes out under the gate and across the road to us. Every night we had rain we were on flood alert. At this point as the river is higher than the property either side we have to pump out what is coming through the ground, so from the 23rd December we have had at least 4 pumps running day and night.

Monday the 6th January was the worst day, rain most of the night with a downpour in the morning the river came through the field opposite and came across the road so fast it took us by surprise slightly. One minute it was trickling out and within 30 minutes we had 2 foot of water against the gates. We managed to borrow 2 more pumps, so we had 6 submersible electric pumps and a diesel pump working all day Monday as the river is now higher than us and water coming up through the ground. We managed to keep the water out from the gates and from the house, but we were close.

We now have a break in the weather for a couple of days so hopefully the rivers will subside, but more importanly we get a good nights sleep.

River to the right of us

River to the left of us

Floodgate at the rear of the property running into the field

Monday 6th January

The field opposite

Pumps working night and day