Home / Disasters and Accidents / Storm Chandra Floods Destroy Home, Father Fears Repeat Deluge
Storm Chandra Floods Destroy Home, Father Fears Repeat Deluge
29 Jan
Summary
- A father lost all downstairs furniture, heirlooms, and pets to floodwaters.
- Torrential rain is forecast to hit the area again with new warnings issued.
- Christmas presents and baby pictures were among the destroyed sentimental items.
A heartbroken father faces the potential for renewed flooding in Axminster, Devon, after his rented home was devastated by Storm Chandra.
Billy Vernon, 39, lost all downstairs furniture, cherished possessions, and five chickens and four ducks when waist-high water inundated his four-bedroom property. He fears a repeat as the Met Office has issued yellow warnings for heavy rain from this afternoon, with up to 25mm (1in) expected in Devon and Cornwall by midnight.
Further downpours are predicted for tomorrow and Saturday, with another 30mm (1.2in) expected along with strong winds. Mr. Vernon described the destruction of his children's Christmas presents and his late mother's pictures as the hardest part. The family, including his two sons, is sheltering upstairs with essential items.
The flooding has also caused significant disruption to rail services in Devon, with lines closed due to track flooding and a sinkhole appearing near Dawlish. Elsewhere, a caravan park in Dorset was evacuated due to a severe flood warning, and the Environment Agency issued numerous warnings and alerts across England.
