MEARNS RESIDENTS have rallied around friends and neighbours affected by dramatic coastal flooding.
Volunteers joined business owners and tradesmen in Stonehaven to begin the mammoth task of assessing and repairing properties.
At the badly damaged Bay View B&B, owner David Williamson said he was simply glad nobody had been seriously hurt.
He added: “We had a guest watching out the window when the ‘perfect wave’ hit at around 3am on Saturday.
“Astonishment would be the word today. We have had 10 years here and not so much as a teaspoon of water, never mind this.”
The interior of the building was ripped to shreds with flooring ruined, beds and furniture wrecked and a strong smell of earth and sand hanging in the air.
Mr Williamson said 30 people had offered help, including plumbers, joiners and electricians.
At Hanover Court and Turner’s Court sheltered housing units, elderly residents were attempting to clear up.
Sandy (78) and Mary Stewart (73) returned home after spending Saturday night at Edenholme Care Home and Sunday night with relatives.
The couple were lifted through a rear bedroom window by firefighters as sea-water filled their living room knee deep.
Mary said: “I heard a crash and I thought it was thunder and lightning. I just couldn’t believe it was happening.”
A few doors down, an 83-year-old woman suffered bruising to her legs after her furniture began floating around the house.
Neighbour John Kenyon (75) said the council and emergency services had been quick to act after he called the police early on Saturday morning.
Phil Carr (65), who lives near the harbour, was yesterday out sweeping debris that landed near his garden wall.
He said: “This could create problems for the Fireballs ceremony at New Year because they will probably have to shut all this area off.”
Stonehaven councillor Graeme Clark said: “There was nothing that could’ve been done to prevent this from happening it was an exceptional storm.”
Councillor Wendy Agnew added: “Our sea defences have been breached and I have been telling the council for a few years that this could happen.
“But I have never seen waves that high. The last time we saw anything like this was 50 years ago.”
It is expected to take several days to assess the damage and the likely cost of repair.
The town’s crushed boardwalk will be removed and specialist divers will be called in to assess the harbour.
Area manager for Kincardine and Mearns, Willie Munro said: “Our first priority is to find appropriate accommodation for those residents who may not be able to return home for some weeks.
“The council continues to work in partnership with other agencies to clear up the aftermath of the flooding as quickly as possible and get started on repairing the damage.”
There was damage to the harbour and commercial properties at Peterhead, a 20m section of harbour wall at Boddam and the harbour in Fraserburgh.
Minor flooding also affected streets in Inverbervie and Johnshaven.