'IT WAS REALLY BAD.. A TOTAL NIGHTMARE' Anger at council's response to floods.Byline: MAGGIE BARRY ANGRY residents claim they were left abandoned by their council when flood waters flowed through their town. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire when 55mm of rain - equivalent to a month's worth - fell on Sunday. Flood defences on the River Carron failed and sent waist-high water rushing through the area and into homes. Yesterday, residents accused Aberdeenshire council of not being prepared for the torrent, despite warnings. They claim they were forced to make their own barriers to stem the flow - some even took pillow cases to the beach to make their own sandbags sandbags small sacks containing sand used to support an anesthetized animal in dorsal recumbency and prevent it from rolling sideways during anesthesia or surgery. . Mum Nicola Campbell, 32, said: "It was a total nightmare as there was nothing we could do." Councillor David Fleming
David Fleming also criticised the operation. He said: "There were serious failures of response to our predicament and not surprisingly people are very angry. There was a huge shortage of sandbags. We've more rain forecast and people are very worried." The council said torrential rain meant crews were stretched "very thinly" but added: "They've been committed to helping wherever possible." Further north, in Huntly, 40 elderly people were rescued from a care home when the River Deveron The River Deveron, known anciently as the Dovern, is a river in the north east of Scotland. The river has a length of 60 miles, and has a reputation for its salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing. burst its banks and another 70 from homes in the area. Yesterday, First Minister Alex Salmond Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond, known as Alex Salmond (born December 31, 1954, Linlithgow), is a Scottish politician, and the current First Minister of Scotland, heading a minority government. visited the town, which is in his constituency. He told residents: "I stand ready to do everything I can." He went to the home of firefighter Craig Bowden Craig David Bowden (born June 18, 1968) is an American professional golfer. Bowden has gone back and forth between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour during his career. He is currently a member of the PGA Tour. who had earlier been rescuing people. Craig said: "I returned to find 4ft of water inside the house." On Sunday, Grampian Fire and Rescue had their busiest period in 35 years. They took 350 calls and made 150 rescues. Meanwhile, a man died after his car collided with a lorry yesterday on the A90 near Cortes. Police could not say if the crash was weather related. CAPTION(S): DEVASTATED dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. Craig Bowden at home RESCUE Firefighters were inundated in·un·date tr.v. in·un·dat·ed, in·un·dat·ing, in·un·dates 1. To cover with water, especially floodwaters. 2. with calls FLOOD Cars submerged in Stonehaven's high street WAIST HIGH Garage door shows level flood waters reached |
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