UK flood victims torn between staying put and leaving for higher ground

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/06/uk-flood-victims-somerset-levels-pm

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Some had already packed up and gone, others were resolutely fighting the still-rising floodwaters. Those on slightly higher ground (a few inches of altitude is the difference between soggy misery and relative dryness on the Somerset Levels now) were watching and waiting.

"We're dithering. We don't know whether to leave or if we're going to be OK," said Jeremy Langford in the village of Moorland. "I've been studying the graphs on the Environment Agency website trying to work out what they mean. But it's hard to tell. The people on the ground are very nice and helpful but they don't really know what is going on. I'm sure somebody knows what the water is doing but if they do they aren't getting the message over to us."

The police helicopter had hovered above here on Wednesday evening and advised people to get out. "That was ridiculous," said 70-year-old John Field. "It caused chaos, panic. There are a lot of elderly people here who were very frightened."

Field decided to stay. "We moved here eight years ago after living for 34 years in North Petherton [on the other side of the M5 from Moorland]. We retired here. It's a very nice village when it's not flooded."

Avon and Somerset police defended the decision to scramble the helicopter, explaining that they had struggled to get the message to some very isolated properties that the floodwater was rising again.

They also tried to reassure residents that gangs of looters were not marauding across the Levels, pointing out there had been just three reported thefts in recent days.

One of those who fled, Maria Maye, had to climb out of the window of her cottage to escape dirty floodwater. "We're underwater. I'm devastated," she said. Other families loaded up 4x4s with belongings – and pets – and made for higher ground.

But despite the force's advice to flee, most residents seemed to be staying put, at least for the moment. Les and Sue Chapman watched as the water continued to steadily encroach on their garden – the first time their property had been affected.

Mr Chapman said he thought the attempts to keep water out of some parts of the village was forcing it into new places. "I think they are moving water around as much as getting rid of it," he said.

There was certainly a huge amount of work in the village. Environment Agency vehicles and other trucks were arriving every few seconds. More sandbags were being brought in (plus blow-up ones that inflate when water hits them). New barriers were being transported in, along with truckloads of aggregate to try to keep the water away.

Stuart Griffith, an airline pilot, said he accepted that the weather had been exceptional. "As I've flown I've never seen anything like it – storm after storm coming in." The old part of his house is more than 150 years old and has no damp course. "We're worried the water will start bubbling up into the middle of the house," he said.

As there have been for weeks now, there were calls from some for David Cameron to visit to see the mess for himself.

Nick Podeschi also wondered why no soldiers and marines were on the ground helping. "A week ago we had the army offered, and if you had seen it in the village last night there were lots of Environment Agency staff trying to build the flood defences. I would have thought now was an ideal time for the army to be here."