Jean Powell was forced to evacuate her Chippenham Court flat when the River Monnow overflowed during Storm Claudia and reached 18 times its typical level. With no close relatives living nearby, she stayed in a room above The Kings Head pub for nearly ten months while her flood-damaged property was dried out. Powell's health deteriorated during this extended displacement, and she passed away in September just before residents were scheduled to return to the complex. Her situation reflects the ongoing crisis in Monmouth, where many citizens still remain in temporary rentals, care homes, and Airbnbs a full year later.
Key points
Displaced residents from the refurbished Chippenham Court retirement complex faced nearly…: Displaced residents from the refurbished Chippenham Court retirement complex faced nearly a year of temporary living arrangements before being scheduled to return.
One year after the historic one-in-75-year flood event, numerous Monmouth locals still re…: One year after the historic one-in-75-year flood event, numerous Monmouth locals still remain displaced in care homes, Airbnbs, and rented housing.
Natural Resources Wales and the Met Office warned that one in seven properties across Wal…: Natural Resources Wales and the Met Office warned that one in seven properties across Wales faces flood threats as extreme wet winters increase.
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When neighbours hammered on Jean Powell's door and evacuated her to safety because the nearby river had burst its banks and swamped her town, little did she know she would never return home.
Jean sought a 10-month refuge at her local Wetherspoons but kept asking when she could go back to her flat, which was flooded when the River Monnow hit 18-times its normal level in south Wales last November.
But the 95-year-old never got to go back home and died in September - one of those who suffered a personal toll from the effects of being flooded.
"Jean used to say, when am I going home?" said friend and neighbour Wyn Smith. "All she wanted to do was come back home and we couldn't fulfil that."
Jean was forced out of her home when the river hit record levels in the early hours of November 15 last year as a major incident was declared after almost a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours.
It has been officially described as a one-in-75-year event when the river…
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