Storm Babet a year on: Debenahm residents still affected by floods

Over 750 properties in Suffolk flooded

Residents in Debenham pushing a car through flood water
Author: Jasmine OakPublished 18th Oct 2024

A year on from Strom Babet, some residents in Debenham say they've still not recovered as their homes are in disrepair.

A major incident was declared in Suffolk during the storm, with over 750 properties flooded in the county, disruption to roads and railways, and schools closing.

The top five places most significantly affected in Suffolk were Framlingham, followed closely by Debenham.

Needham Market came next, followed by Wickham Market and Hoxne in fifth.

We spoke to residents in Debenham a year on to see how they've been coping.

A tractor going through flood water in Debenham

Katherine Barlow is the Vice Chair of Debenham Parish Council.

She told us they're still dealing with the consequences: "It's something that really is devastating. Until it happens to you, you don't realise.

"You don't keep everything upstairs just in case there's going to be a flood, you've got stuff there and it's memories and I am sure it breaks people's hearts every time they see, and it reminds them of what they've lost."

Many of the people who relocated at the time have still not moved back into their homes as construction continues.

Katherine said she understands that this must be difficult for them to deal with: "The houses are still being worked on.

"I walk past them and still see the builders in there, drying them (the houses) out or re-fitting kitchens.

"It would be emotional to come back and see that and I'd hope that people would be able to get past that and see it is a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing."

She then told us she does worry people won't come back having spent a year away: "There are people that intend to come back, but there will be people that have set up life somewhere else and find that they're doing alright there.

"They're probably scared to come back because they think 'I don't want the same thing to happen again' and that would be a travesty to have that because we have got such a tight-knit community."

A flooded living room due to Storm Babet

A flooded living room due to Storm Babet

A flooded living room due to Storm Babet

Storm Babet a year on: Debenahm residents still affected by floods
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Plans to prevent flooding in the future

Katherine told us the Parish Council has been working on an action plan so residents are prepared for any flooding this winter.

This includes residents knowing where to go if they need help, and providing sanctuary for those who need it.

They're also looking at how to mitigate the damage should a flood happen again: "We have to make sure, in our neighbourhood plan, that we have something in place to say 'only build where it's appropriate' because otherwise, we're going to be sacrificing the houses that are already in the village and medieval houses that have been here for centuries."

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