The water's getting closer

First of all, apologies to anyone not from around Hull!

We got back from a weekend away(more of that later) to find the water level around the house was getting higher and higher. Just getting here was a major achievement. We drove down from Northumberland and the rain started as we were passing through Teeside. It got worse as we came South. We stopped off at York for a bite to eat and to do some shopping and realised how much it was raining as we got out of the car. However, it was when we carried on our journey that we knew we were in for a struggle.

First of all, the main road into Hull, the A63, was closed. Then as we were heading down the A1079, we heard that Market Weighton had been closed off and the A1079 through Bishop Burton was flooded. That meant another approach to Hull was closed. We were able to go around the Market Weighton bypass but the water flowing down the A1079 and the A1034 had meant the road into MW was closed.

We ventured against the flow of water along the A1034. We went off through North Newbald and over the hills via Little Weighton and Skidby. The bottom of Little Weighton hill was awash and there was a steady flow into Skidby as well. We headed towards Willerby but found the road closed so did a turn and went through Cottingham towards Priory Road. We found the traffic on their nose to tail but moving slowly. The water was pretty high along the section through the fields easing off as we got towards Willerby Road. That was closed at the bottom of Spring Bank making Priory Road even busier. From there, we headed for home only to find the Avenue closed so we turned round again and went back up to come down Spring Gardens. The top of there was flooded but not as bad as Priory Road so we came through slowly and the rest was clear until we got to the Avenue. However, there was only a sheen up to where we turned into our road.

Unfortunately, that sheen got heavier! The water started pooling in front of the house and, by the time it had stopped raining at around 9pm, was up to the garden wall and reading to start on the drive. Strangely enough, the water level in the back garden had already started to drop by then. It had been halfway up when we arrived home but, as the amount of rain lessened, the level fell. We had a lucky escape. We watched the level at the front for an hour or so and then went to bed hoping no more rain would fall. Apparently there was over 100mm of rain yesterday.

This morning, the level had fallen slightly and I waded into the garage to retrieve our Wellington boots. I walked along to the Avenue and took this photo. The water has been very slow to go. At 4pm, it has just about cleared our road but there is still quite a lot in the Avenue and the next roads along.

Several houses in the Avenue have been flooded and some further around our road too. Barbara has been speaking to our friends as lots of arrangements were cancelled and there are numerous tales of woe. At least 10 of them have had some water ingress. All across the City there are people flooded out, cars abandoned, schools and businesses closed. The size of the problem is only to be guessed at. Most people have not been able to get help from the emergency services or council. They were at full stretch saving life and limb. Unfortunately, they couldn't save the life of one young chap close by who suffered a nightmare death as the water rose around him. It doesn't bear thinking about.

We took the advice of the emergency services and didn't travel to PARKs. I suspect the main roads are getting back to normal but it would be foolhardy to leave the house with more rain forecast. Although what the hell we could do is questionable.