A Perth mum has had to invest money she inherited on protecting her home from flood water.
Perth council bosses say it’s up to residents to protect their homes against flooding.
Janice Haig has spent thousands on flood prevention gear since her house suffered extensive damage in 2020.
“We had a £35,000 insurance claim,” says Janice.
“Our insurance payments quadrupled.”
She was one of the unfortunate residents who saw their homes ruined by floods in August that year.
But she says flooding misery for those, like her, who live along the length of the Craigie Burn is not limited to big weather events.
Janice, 49, lives in Croft Park, near where the burn meets the South Inch.
She was hit by flooding again in September last year.
When her grown up daughter came home, Janice had to “throw wellies to her” so she could wade to the house.
Janice says she has to have water pumps at the ready at all times.
“At least once or twice a year we get eight to 10 inches of water in the garden.”
“It’s constant. Every night we check the weather forecast.”
2020 storm devastated homes
In 2020, the Craigie Burn overflowed, deluging Janice’s home and garden with storm water and sewage.
Janice had to gut the ground floor of her home and invest in new floors and furniture.
And she has since invested heavily on protecting her Perth home from flood events.
To date she has spent:
- More than £2,000 on purchasing and installing an aluminium flood barrier to prevent water coming in her back door.
- £500 on a flood barrier for her front door.
- £500 on water pumps.
- More than £750 on FloodSax – ‘sandless sand bags’.
- £200 on air brick covers.
- £500 on a generator.
Total = £4,450.
And that’s not the end of it…
Janice plans to spend up to £600 on a petrol pump to ensure she can eject floodwater quickly enough to keep her home dry.
That would take the bill to more than £5,000.
She has only been able to afford all these measures because she inherited money when her father passed away.
Others, she says, are not able to do the same.
Even buying covers for outside vents could set you back £300, says Janice.
“For some people, that’s just not possible.”
Community takes action
So what now?
Perth and Kinross Council bosses maintain “individuals have responsibility to protect their own properties in the first instance.”
And Perth residents are taking matters into their own hands to help flood hit neighbours.
There are plans to form a community group, which could raise funding and buy items like flood sacks for those living locally who need them.
“Groups are getting together and looking to buying in bulk to support the community,” says Janice.
“We’re trying to set up a group so we can take action.”
In the meantime, Janice is keeping a close eye on the weather forecast.
Conversation