Exactly one month after the floods on Boxing Day, York is counting the cost.
City of York Council has assessed its operations so far and the figures are quite eye-opening. But there is also a sense of pride at the community effort to help those afflicted.
Council leader Chris Steward said:
Others worked alongside community efforts to support flood-affected residents and businesses, and many volunteered as individuals in their own right to support the extraordinary contribution of volunteers from the city and beyond.
So here are the floods in figures, as supplied by City of York Council.
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Sandbags
13,000 sandbags were deployed to existing flood defences, key utility installations, hospitals, schools, communication centres, care homes and operational emergency services premises and essential roads
1,000 given to Cawood and 400 to James Street Travellers’ site
Although local authorities are not required to supply sandbags for individual residential and commercial properties, these were provided on request and where available for premises at risk of flooding.
Visits and calls
Around 900 homes have been visited to offer advice and ask what help is required
262 businesses visited
More than 1,000 flood-related calls were answered between 27 and 31 December (not including data from 6pm 27 December to 9am 29 December when phone lines were down and mobiles were in use)
Helpers
The council has more than 100 volunteers on its database
200 army personnel helped out
More than 250 residents volunteered
300 students volunteered
25 different community groups offered support from across the country and helped to:
- fill sandbags
- clean affected areas
- pack and distribute supplies.
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Homes hit
Around 416 properties are confirmed as internally flooded
Includes 47 council homes and 20 homes at James Street Travellers’ site
250 people evacuated from homes
120 residents used the rest centre at Archbishop Holgate School for temporary respite before moving on to friends and family
34 York streets had flood-affected properties
5 villages were affected: Acaster Malbis, Naburn, Elvington, Poppleton and Osbaldwick.
Council tenancies
Tenants of Alex Lyon House were relocated to other council residential homes.
5 made their own arrangements declining an offer of accommodation
15 were accommodated temporarily but have returned home
3 remain in a nursing home
6 still in temporary accommodation.
Businesses and schools
157 businesses confirmed as flooded
All of York schools opened as planned for the new term on 4 January.
Waste recovery
74 skips were placed around the city. They were emptied 234 times of 210 tonnes of flood-damaged waste.
Between 28 December and 20 January, 124 deliveries of flood-damaged waste totalling 213 tonnes were taken to Harewood Whin landfill site
12 collection rounds picked up 50 fridges from flood-affected homes.
Financial support paid
£137,000 recovery grant paid to 274 residents (with a one-off payment of £500)
Council Tax exemptions totalling £118,200 for 351 properties directly affected by flooding
York’s Disaster Fund has paid out £18,900 to all 46 applicants
Business Rates exemptions totalling £600,000 for 115 businesses directly affected by flooding
£78,500 resilience grants paid to 38 eligible businesses.
More financial support is available: go to the council’s flood pages to find more.