Residents in the Herefordshire village of Ewyas Harold are expressing anxiety about the upcoming autumn and winter, as the Met Office has warned of an increased likelihood of wetter-than-average conditions. The village, located near Hereford and the Welsh border, has experienced flooding four times in the past six years.
Last November, during Storm Claudia, the Dulas Brook burst its banks, causing a foot of water to sweep through properties. The Environment Agency reported that the brook reached a record 2.9m (9.5ft), the highest level recorded since monitoring began.
Kate Reed, a resident whose home was flooded last year, spent three months in temporary accommodation for repairs. She stated that heavy rain now makes her nervous. New flood protection measures, including a temporary earth bund and plans for a wall, have since been installed at her property.
Bennie Krige, owner of the village store and post office, also saw his business and home flooded. He welcomed the government's new Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce, which is part of a £10.5bn pledge towards flood protection up to 2036.