At 6:44 pm there was a flood warning for Tesco and properties close to the River Ock. It said
‘Property flooding is expected. River levels are rising steadily on the River Ock following heavy rainfall from Storm Bert. Therefore, flooding of property and roads is expected overnight 25/11/24. Peak levels could reach similar levels to those seen in January 2024. Areas most at risk are properties located on Nash Drive, Meadowside and Chaunterell Way.’
By 8:15 pm Nash Drive had road flooding and the River Ock Monitoring Station level was at 1.37 meters and continued to rise. Flooding can happen above 1.31 meters.
This is the second flood in just two months, making it even harder for people who are still recovering from the last one.
There was a second flood warning. If the level goes any higher than 1.47 meters, even more properties could be flooded. It got to 1.46 meters on 25th September 2024 and watching the graph levels, it could get near that level again.
What could be the cause of all this destructive rain? I wish we knew and then maybe something could be done about it.
People will have to rethink where they build houses. It is just asking for trouble to build on flood plains. If the world is going to get more rain building next to rivers will be a risky business.
We have the technology – stilts ! Some have already done that in Abingdon (adjacent to the Ock bridge), many years ago. A boat in the under croft is probably a good wheeze.
Those are great ideas but they are a response to the rain, not an answer to the issue. What happens when these ideas are no longer enough? Taller stilts? Build on more prime farmland leaving only flood plains for food?