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St Asaph flood death: Margaret Hughes 'had no alert' St Asaph flood death: Margaret Hughes 'had no alert'
(35 minutes later)
A 91-year-old woman who died during severe flooding had joined a flood warning scheme but an alert failed to reach her, an inquest heard.A 91-year-old woman who died during severe flooding had joined a flood warning scheme but an alert failed to reach her, an inquest heard.
Margaret Hughes was found drowned in her home during floods at St Asaph, Denbighshire, in November 2012. Margaret Hughes was found drowned in her bungalow during floods at St Asaph, Denbighshire, in November 2012.
She had signed up to receive alerts through her daughter's mobile phone, but the inquest heard as it was switched off they did not get through. She had signed up to receive alerts through her daughter's mobile phone, but the inquest heard it was switched off so they did not get through.
Water levels rose by up to 7ft (2.1m) in places in about 30 minutes. Water levels rose by up to 7ft (2.1m) in about 30 minutes.
Mrs Hughes did not have a mobile phone so her daughter, Gwenda Jones, opted to receive the flood alerts on behalf. RNLI footage from inside Mrs Hughes's house played to the inquest showed a bed was nearly submerged in one room with objects and furniture floating around it, while in the kitchen, the floodwater was up to the level of the worktops.
She told the inquest she had never received a warning via phone before. Inundated
On 26 November, she switched her phone off "just after midnight," as she normally did. Fire fighters, lifeboat crews and police were among those involved in the evacuation of residents after more than 400 homes and businesses were inundated.
Mrs Jones was told about the floods the following morning at about 08:00 GMT by her son. Great-grandmother Mrs Hughes did not have a landline or mobile phone so her daughter, Gwenda Jones, opted to receive the flood alerts via mobile on her behalf.
She told the inquest she had never received a phone warning before.
On 26 November, she switched her phone off "just after midnight", as she normally did.
Mrs Jones was told about the river Elwy bursting its banks the following morning at about 08:00 GMT by her son.
She immediately switched her phone on. Asked if there were any messages relating to flood warnings on the phone, she told the inquest: "None whatsoever."She immediately switched her phone on. Asked if there were any messages relating to flood warnings on the phone, she told the inquest: "None whatsoever."
The hearing continues. Previous warnings
Mrs Jones said residents where her mother lived had received flood warnings in the years before, and had been evacuated, but the incidents had not been serious.
She said: "They'd had two previous flood warnings there and there were no problems at all there... the first one was around the year 2000 and the other one was a few years after."
Mrs Jones said it was a "possibility" her mother could have thought: "Well I'm still safe in my own home."
Mrs Jones added: "I don't know what was going through her head that morning."
The inquest heard Mrs Hughes had suffered osteoporosis for 30 to 40 years, but according to her daughter she was very independent.
Mrs Jones said her mother had a pendant-style panic button which she kept on a unit in the house.
Asked by the coroner whether her mother had a landline, she said no.
She added: "We were trying to sort one out for her."
The hearing is due to last five days.