Calls for review into Storm Claudia after Monmouth flooding

MSs have called for an urgent review into the impact of Storm Claudia after flooding left homes and businesses wrecked.

The storm hit the UK on Friday and had a “devastating” impact in Wales, where a major incident was declared.

Dozens of people were rescued from their homes or evacuated in the town of Monmouth, following severe flooding when the River Monnow burst its banks.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called for a “rapid review” of the storm and its impact.

He said: “The scenes, of course, in Monmouth were extraordinary, those were the ones that captured the headlines.

“The River Monnow overtopped the flood defences, it swept right through the centre of the town at a pace that nobody could have expected.

“Homes were inundated, elderly residents had to be evacuated in the middle of the night, and, of course, entire businesses were left destroyed with us being just weeks away from Christmas.

“We’ve got to make sure that we learn lessons from these events quickly,” he added.

“What assurances can you give that a rapid review will now be undertaken into what’s happened, and that speedy action will be taken to invest, as is necessary, to improve those flood defences and help this community, particularly in Monmouth, to get back on its feet, given that it was that hardest hit?”

Inundation

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “We can, and we do, try and prepare for situations like this, but when you get five inches of rain in five hours you get a situation that was much worse in Monmouthshire than even the storms of Bert and Dennis.

“So, we didn’t see that absolute inundation and the impact it would have, but there was as much preparation as could have been possible.

“Everybody gave all the warnings in advance, and I’d like to put on record my thanks to the emergency services for their sterling work in relation to this, but also to the communities, who’ve absolutely come together, who are working together, and making sure that they are responding.

“We review after every event,” she added.

“Every single time, there is a group that comes together, that assesses: ‘What did we do? Could it be done better?’ And it’s always used and always improved for the next one that comes along.”