Powers that be should hang heads in shame, claims Storm Babet flood victim

Norfolk flood victims say they are being failed after an investigation revealed only a tiny proportion of people have managed to get support to protect their homes.

Figures obtained through a freedom of information request show just seven per cent of people applying for Property Flood Resilience grants (PFR) – money offered by the Government to help victims – have been approved since 2018.

Just 27 homes that have been flooded in the county over the last seven years have had protection measures installed.

It has left victims who have suffered repeated floods wondering if the worst of the damage could have been prevented if they had received funding for protection measures before being struck again.

One homeowner, who is still living in temporary accommodation after her home was flooded by Storm Babet in October – the second flood in three years – called the situation “scandalous”.

Lynn Shortt, who lives with her husband, Hans, and their dog, Rainbow, in Attleborough, was first flooded on Christmas Eve in 2020.

Their house was left badly damaged, forcing them to stay in temporary accommodation for several months while they rebuilt their lives.

They applied for a PFR grant shortly after, but while a survey has been carried out, they are yet to receive any funding.

Disaster struck again in October 2023, when Storm Babet brought torrential rain that led to one of the biggest flooding events Attleborough has suffered in decades.

More than 130 homes were affected and, once again, the Shortts were forced out of their home, which they had only recently made habitable again.

Mrs Shortt said: “It may not have been so bad this time if we had received the funding. We could have had flood doors installed and a non-return valve put in that would have stopped sewage water coming up from the toilet.

“The whole thing is a shambles. We are promised help but it takes forever to arrive.

“When you have been flooded, you need help right away. They should hang their heads in shame.”

Since 2018, 374 people have applied for PFR grants. Nearly half of those (149) are still waiting for a survey.

So far, 27 applications have been successful, while 67 have had surveys and have opted to continue.

The remaining properties have either withdrawn from the scheme, not qualified for funding, their property was deemed unsuitable or the applicant was unable to pay for measures above the grant value.