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Latest Storm Bert: Flood sirens sound as holiday park is evacuated; new weather warning issued | UK News
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Latest Storm Bert: Flood sirens sound as holiday park is evacuated; new weather warning issued | UK News

By Thomas EvansWelsh journalist

“We’ve been here 17 years and it’s getting worse.”

That’s what Andrew Jones, 69, told Sky News after his home was hit by flooding again this weekend.

Mr Jones has lived on Osbaston Road in Monmouth with his wife Bridget O’Hara, 75, since 2007.

Their property, next to the River Monnow, was in one of two areas of Wales covered by a severe flood warning overnight.

This morning, the clean-up operation is underway here, a phenomenon that has become all too familiar to the couple.

“It’s a threat every year, whereas it used to happen every five years,” Mr Jones told Sky News.

“Historically we knew the place flooded, but it was probably every five years there was a serious flood and what we call severe is one that breaks through our flood defenses and comes into the house.

“And then a few times a year we would be surrounded by water and turned into a lighthouse, so where we are now we could be knee-deep in water.

“Yesterday we would have been underwater here where we are now.”

While we are on site, Natural Resources Wales is issuing a new Red Flood Warning for the area, downgrading the highest warning in force overnight.

“My wife and I managed to get all our carpets and furniture up to a high standard. We pretty much unplugged everything,” adds Mr Jones.

“We lost power around 8 p.m. last night, so we had no power on the ground floor or the first floor.

“And now we start cleaning. As you can see, we have wooden floors – although you don’t realize it.

“And then we have this mush, so the point of the exercise now is to move it while it’s wet, because once it’s dry it’s a nightmare.”

Mr Jones tells us the flood level was the “highest recorded”, according to Natural Resources Wales.

But the couple would like to see greater support from the environment agency for flood-prone properties.

“They give you a little sign that you can put in your window that says ‘please save us,'” Ms. O’Hara said.

“We don’t really get a lot of support,” adds Mr Jones.

Sky News has asked Natural Resources Wales for its response.

Although Storm Bert may have calmed down here in Monmouth, it left its mark, with residents left to assess the damage.