A DORRIDGE single mum has spoken of her nightmare when her home flooded after Friday’s thunderstorm.
Eleni Georgiou’s home was one of 52 across Dorridge and Bentley Heath which became overwhelmed from rainwater and a number of vehicles were half-submerged on Poplar Road and Hanbury Road.
Around 8pm Eleni’s daughter started to watching the storm from her front window on Poplar Road but when Eleni saw her back garden had filled up with rainwater she started to worry.
At first she put towels down at the doors but when her barricade was breached she had to start frantically mopping.
Soon it was too much and she ended up with her nine-year-old in the dining room and calling her family for help.
Eleni said: “I was living a nightmare – at one point the water was coming through the walls, rising up from the floor and it was moving too.
“When my brother came to help out he had to climb in through the window and the water was up to his waist.”
Eleni said she slipped and sprained her ankle on the water and despite leaving notes on the window she did not get any help from the emergency services.
“I ended up shouting from my window to find out what was happening and I was told to go upstairs because the water was contaminated.
“I had been in the water and so had my daughter – we should’ve been contacted sooner.”
The water levels dropped by Saturday so Eleni and her neighbours, along with Solihull Council could start a clean up operation.
A council spokesperson said: “The drainage team is investigating this incident and will produce a report.
“The initial view is that the inundation was principally caused by a huge local downpour that produced an overwhelming amount of surface rain water.
“However, the investigation will pinpoint any particular issues in the area that contributed to the flooding. If there is any evidence it will be used to apply for funding to provide mitigation measures.”
The deluge caused chaos across the borough – the railway line between Solihull and Dorridge was flooded and services were cancelled over the weekend.
The M42 between junction three for Redditch and Evesham and junction five for Solihull was closed in both directions on Friday night due to flooding.
On Saturday Solihull St Alphege Neighbourhood Policing Team tweeted: “The community of Dorridge came together last night helping the police close roads and control traffic Fire and Ambo crews wading waist deep to save a disable person stuck in their home.”
Anyone who still needs support should contact Solihull Council’s drainage team on 0121 704 8004 or email [email protected]
