Devastated March residents were today counting the cost – both financial and emotional- of the weekend floods.
While homeowners and businesses wait for insurance assessors, many were simply grateful it was over quickly.
But it could be months before life returns to normal for people like Christine Morrison.
With her son James they lifted furniture to safety after as flood waters rose up to eight inches high in just half an hour at her Gold Street home.
She said: “Firemen were pumping water through the night. There was raw sewage floating round the house. It was devastating. We cannot thank the fire service enough for the work they did.”
Mr Hill added: “Anglia Water didn’t arrive until Sunday at about 10pm when they cleared 12 lots of 4,000 tanker gallon loads to the Creek Fen plant, but we all feel they should have come earlier.
“Fire crew on the other hand were fantastic. One officer even came round on Sunday on his day off to check if residents were OK.”
Neighbour Jack Harris, 83, is living with family while he hopes to move into a rented property after water ruined his home.
His daughter Connie Harris said: “We tried to mop up as the rain came in but it was fighting a losing battle.
“Someone needs to be accountable for this - yes it was heavy rain but it shouldn’t have flooded this bad this quick.”
Neighbour Susan and Malcolm Green put furniture onto tyres to save it from the floods.
Mrs Green said: “My son was at the back trying to stop sewage from coming in the house. The fire service was brilliant and did the best they could. The mess of the sewage in our back gardens is a health hazard.”
At Qualitech in Century Way, where 30 people manufacture high quality components, director Alexander Craig said an emergency plan was put into place where staff cleared floors to keep flood damage to a minimum.
He said: “Within 45 minutes the flood water was four foot deep. It was unbelievable. Luckily we have procedures so it didn’t affect our business.
“The car park flooded - some staff could drive out but the smaller cars had to be pushed.
“There has been occasional light flooding before but nothing like this. It just kept coming.”
At AD Sutton VW specialist garage in Norwood Road Adam Sutton said he and his wife Emma cancelled a mini break to come back and sort flooding.
He said: “We often get flooded down here because drainage isn’t adequate - but it takes four to six weeks to get to this level. On Friday it took half a day.”
In Norwood Road Amy Cosford, 25, returned from a night away at a wedding with her partner, three month old baby Katie-May and four year old Son Jake to find her home under flood water.
She said: “Firemen were pumping water. It was scary to see. I’ve lived her all my life and never seen water that high. The house stinks. I just hope the house insurance covers us.”
At the One Stop Shop in Maple Grove manager Jade Bennett said the shop shut at about mid-day because the rear car park and storeroom was flooded.
She said: “The road outside was deep in water. It happened so quickly.”
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