Storm Chandra Brings Widespread Disruption and Flooding to South-West England
As Storm Chandra swept through south-west England, it brought heavy rain and strong winds that caused widespread disruption, leaving many residents cut off from their homes. The Environment Agency (EA) reported over 30 properties flooded, primarily in Devon, Cornwall, and Hampshire, with some areas experiencing severe flooding.
The storm also affected other parts of the UK, causing travel disruptions, school closures, and flight cancellations in northern England and south Wales. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, flights and ferries were cancelled due to heavy rain, wind, or snow.
The region's already fragile infrastructure was put to the test as Storm Chandra brought torrential downpours, with over 105mm of rain falling on parts of Dartmoor in Devon in just 12 hours. The strongest winds recorded were 75mph gusts at St Bees Head in Cumbria and 63mph at Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland.
Locals in areas hit by Storm Chandra described chaotic scenes, with waist-deep water flooding homes and roads. One resident, Billy Vernon, was forced to wade through floodwater to fetch supplies for his family, who were trapped upstairs due to rising waters.
The storm's impact has sparked concerns about the region's ability to cope with extreme weather events. The leader of Devon County Council, Julian Brazil, expressed frustration that the area had been "left behind" in terms of investment and support from central government. He called for more funding to be allocated to improve the region's resilience against flooding.
The Devon Wildlife Trust has also raised concerns about the impact on local wildlife, particularly beavers, which live along the River Otter. The trust warned that rapidly rising water can overwhelm their burrows and lodges, posing a significant threat to these animals.
In Somerset, residents in low-lying areas fear they could lose their homes again as heavy rainfall raises the risk of further flooding. The Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG) claims the authorities have not provided sufficient maintenance funding for waterways, leaving them vulnerable to flooding.
As climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather events, it is clear that more needs to be done to support regions like south-west England in preparing for and responding to these events. The government must take urgent action to address this issue and provide the necessary resources to ensure that communities are better equipped to deal with the consequences of storms like Storm Chandra.
As Storm Chandra swept through south-west England, it brought heavy rain and strong winds that caused widespread disruption, leaving many residents cut off from their homes. The Environment Agency (EA) reported over 30 properties flooded, primarily in Devon, Cornwall, and Hampshire, with some areas experiencing severe flooding.
The storm also affected other parts of the UK, causing travel disruptions, school closures, and flight cancellations in northern England and south Wales. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, flights and ferries were cancelled due to heavy rain, wind, or snow.
The region's already fragile infrastructure was put to the test as Storm Chandra brought torrential downpours, with over 105mm of rain falling on parts of Dartmoor in Devon in just 12 hours. The strongest winds recorded were 75mph gusts at St Bees Head in Cumbria and 63mph at Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland.
Locals in areas hit by Storm Chandra described chaotic scenes, with waist-deep water flooding homes and roads. One resident, Billy Vernon, was forced to wade through floodwater to fetch supplies for his family, who were trapped upstairs due to rising waters.
The storm's impact has sparked concerns about the region's ability to cope with extreme weather events. The leader of Devon County Council, Julian Brazil, expressed frustration that the area had been "left behind" in terms of investment and support from central government. He called for more funding to be allocated to improve the region's resilience against flooding.
The Devon Wildlife Trust has also raised concerns about the impact on local wildlife, particularly beavers, which live along the River Otter. The trust warned that rapidly rising water can overwhelm their burrows and lodges, posing a significant threat to these animals.
In Somerset, residents in low-lying areas fear they could lose their homes again as heavy rainfall raises the risk of further flooding. The Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG) claims the authorities have not provided sufficient maintenance funding for waterways, leaving them vulnerable to flooding.
As climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather events, it is clear that more needs to be done to support regions like south-west England in preparing for and responding to these events. The government must take urgent action to address this issue and provide the necessary resources to ensure that communities are better equipped to deal with the consequences of storms like Storm Chandra.
. Can't believe they still haven't fixed the drainage system properly after all these years! 
It's just getting worse and worse, and it's not fair to residents who have to deal with this crap year in and year out 
. And now the environment agency is saying over 30 properties were flooded? That's insane! 
How are people supposed to afford to rebuild their homes again? The government needs to step up and provide some real support instead of just talking about it 
. We need better infrastructure, more funding for maintenance... this can't keep going on 
. I'm so sorry for all the people who got flooded out of their homes 
. We need to step up our game when it comes to preparing for climate change 
. I'm thinking we need more funding for flood prevention and support from the government 
are getting hurt too, and that's just not right 
. As a community, we gotta look out for each other and make sure everyone is safe and sound 
#StormChandra #ClimateAction #FloodPrevention #WildlifeConservation
The fact that they're still dealing with "fragile infrastructure" is pretty worrying. And don't even get me started on the beavers – I didn't know we were supposed to be concerned about their burrows flooding too... 
Can someone just give those little guys a flood insurance policy or something? 
the government needs to do more to invest in infrastructure and support regions that are prone to flooding like south-west england 
it's not just about providing funding, but also about addressing the root causes of flooding and ensuring communities can prepare and respond effectively 
. And don't even get me started on the roads - I tried to leave my house in Devon and it was like a scene from Titanic 
It's like we're just waiting for the next big disaster to happen... 
.
.
. It's time to take action and make a difference! 
because it's not just the humans that are affected, but also the wildlife. beavers in particular are so important to the ecosystem and it's heartbreaking to think about them losing their homes.
. 105mm of rain in just 12 hours is insane! I know we need to talk about climate change and all that, but can't we do something about it already? It's not like it's a new problem or anything... My kids are always asking me when they're going to have to deal with something like this. I wish the government would invest more in infrastructure and support for places that get hit by extreme weather events 
. And what about those poor beavers? They can't even do their own thing without worrying about their homes being flooded 
i mean, 105mm of rain in 12 hours is just wild, but it's not exactly a surprise given how our infrastructure is set up. and to think, the gov is all like "we've got this" with funding for flood protection... yeah right 
. We can't just sit back and let this happen - we need more funding for flood prevention and mitigation measures 
. This isn't just about Storm Chandra; it's about preparing for the future 
. I mean, 105mm of rain in just 12 hours? That's wild! And it's not just the amount of rain that's the issue, it's the infrastructure that can't handle it. It's like the government expected us to just 'get on with it' and fix everything ourselves 
.
. Now, it's like this storm is just another normal day for you folks... I mean, 75mph gusts? That's like something out of a movie! 
And the wildlife, poor beavers can't even call their own homes safe anymore 
. It's just heartbreaking. We need to do more to help these animals and the communities affected by Storm Chandra. Maybe it's time we learned from our parents' generation who had to deal with all this back in the 70s... or was it the 50s? 
. It's not just the homes and businesses that are affected, but also the environment and local wildlife 
. I mean, I'm no expert, but it seems like the government should be doing more to support these areas 
. We need to get our act together before another storm hits 
. Maybe there are some innovative solutions out there that could help us better cope with these types of situations? 
️ The EA needs to step up their game and prioritize investments that will help communities prepare for events like Storm Chandra.
Did you know that climate change has led to a 25% increase in extreme weather events globally since 1980? It's not just south-west England that's affected, but the whole world. 
According to NASA, global sea levels have risen by 8 inches since 1880 due to climate change. That's not just a local issue; it's a global problem that requires a collective response. 
and the wind is blowing strong 75mph gusts are insane that's like riding a rollercoaster lol anyway back to storm chandra its clear that our region needs more investment from central gov like julian brazil said we cant keep leaving areas like devon behind 
. Devon County Council's frustration with being "left behind" is valid 
. And the worst part is, it's not just the damage to homes and roads, but also the impact on local wildlife like beavers 
and those 75mph gusts at st bees head are straight outta a movie 
️ but for real tho, it's so sad to hear about the flooding and all the residents who had to wade through floodwater to get supplies