ACTS OF KINDNESS AMONG THE DESPAIR
AS Monday morning dawned, the full extent of the damage was unveiled. Entire levels of houses had been destroyed by muddy water, and some householders said their whole lives were washed away.
Lisa MacKenzie, of Barclay Street, lost everything she owned except the clothes she was wearing. Her ground floor flat quickly filled with water, with levels rising nearly half way up the walls. "Everything's an absolute shambles, I've lost everything," she said. "It's a really bizarre feeling."
Her friend, Austin, woke to find the bed floating on the water and he had to swim to safety at a neighbour's house.
Malcolm and Kathryn Pope, who live on Cameron Street, had to go feet first out of their front window and were picked up by a lifeboat. It had taken the couple two years to re-do their house, which they completed last year, and their ground floor was destroyed in a matter of hours.
"Luckily we got our carpets upstairs and got a lot of things up on high levels, but we weren't anticipating the water getting so high. The water was higher than our floodgate and it was pouring over it," said Malcolm.
Kathryn was trying to keep a positive attitude throughout the clean up, despite the destruction in her house, saying: "You've just got to smile, there's no use letting it get you down. You've got to put on a brave face." She also praised the local community for the help they have given to those in need: "Everyone has been really good, people have been coming to help us move things upstairs."
Other people saw their dream cars devastated within minutes.
Graeme Dobinson lost his Subaru Impreza - which he had owned for only six months - after he parked the vehicle in Cameron Street.
He remained upbeat however, saying he knew he was a lot better off than some people in the town.
Mr Dobinson said: "I left my car parked in Cameron Street and it was just filled with water. There was about six inches of the top of the car showing last night. There's a lot of interior damage, and I think it's going to be a write off. I'm gutted, but at the same time I'm relieved my house hasn't been affected. A car isn't as important as a house."
His grandmother, Margaret Stewart said: "It was his dream car since he was little. He popped in to see me last night, and the rain was heavy then, it was running down the street but nothing to be too worried about. We had a cup of coffee and when Graeme went to leave, it was just crazy, it just came on like that. The rain seems to be worse now than it ever was. It's terrible for a lot of people in the town. We've to be thankful there was no loss of life, that's the main thing."
Ian Caldicott, who lives on Cameron Street, rushed home from London to be told he could not enter his house due to the rising water levels. He also found his car submerged in water, floating down the road. Water had flooded the interior of his Jaguar and covered the seats in mud. His engine was also covered in leaves and debris. "This car was my pride and joy," he said. "Now it's a total write off."
Councillor Wendy Agnew said she has received many complaints from households about drivers coming to Barclay Street and Carron Terrace to do some 'sightseeing', which made the flooding problems considerably worse. She said: "In doing this the wash from their vehicles was flowing into peoples homes."
Amidst the tragedy, however, there were great offers of kindness and support.
Calum Punchard, age 11, along with his sister Sky and friend Jodie spent their day off from Dunnottar school on a mercy mission across town. They were helping clean up people's houses, moving furniture to higher ground and searching for hiding pets.
Local resident Graeme Stuart spoke of how the people in the community had been a big help to each other by helping with cleaning attempts and providing a sympathetic ear. He said: "We've never eaten so many butteries and had so many cups of tea!"
Fetteresso and Dunnottar church members, alongside staff from Here and Now, opened up St Bridget's Hall and provided soup and sandwiches to those left homeless by the floods.
Rev. Rosslyn Duncan said: "It was just a reaction to what we felt was needed, just a combined effort to do what we can at this moment. The hard part will come when people have to go back to their homes and pick up the pieces. We will be going out to visit our parishioners to find out what kind of help they will need when that happens."
Two of the people using the service were Melanie Cargill, whose business was affected by the floods, and her father Roland. Roland praised the church and its volunteers saying: "The church has been fantastic in letting people know that there was a place they could come to get some food, because otherwise we wouldn't have stopped to eat today."
Speaking on Monday, Community Council Chairman David Fleming said: "Like all these things, in an emergency the community rises to the occasion and they certainly did last night and today, with the Royal Hotel providing soup and sandwiches for those stranded in the town hall, Far and Wide opening up and providing dry clothing and a whole host of other people who offered their help voluntarily. Our thanks also go out to the MRI, the fire service, the coastguard, and so many other people who helped in various ways throughout the night."
Aberdeenshire Councillor Paul Melling also praised the local community for their outstanding display of generosity during the tragic circumstances.
He said: "The one good thing to come of this is the bringing together of a community. The floods have not just effected Stonehaven but places all over the Mearns. It is a good thing that people are helping each other."
Malcolm Pope surveys the damage to his home
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Weather for Stonehaven
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 43 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
