These devastating pictures show how 10ft floodwaters have receded around a grandfather’s £200,000 bungalow – but it may now be beyond repair.
Kevin Lorryman’s bungalow was among dozens in Snaith, Yorkshire, that were decimated by heavy rainfall at the end of last month.
Shocking images showed his property almost completely engulfed with only the roof visible and even now, more than two weeks later, a foot of water remains at the scene.
Mr Lorryman, 56, and his wife Catherine, also 56, are just two of hundreds of homeowners who were evacuated from 88 submerged properties in Snaith and surrounding villages last month as Storm Jorge overwhelmed the area’s already-struggling defences.
The grandfather returned last week to survey the damage but was shocked to see cracks in the walls, which have left him fearing the building is beyond repair.
These devastating pictures show how 10ft floodwaters have receded around grandfather Kevin Lorryman’s £200,000 bungalow – but it may now be beyond repair. Pictured: Today and last month
He said: ‘I walked in and was confronted with absolute devastation, the place was unrecognisable.
‘The furniture is everywhere and the kids toys are strewn all over the place, it’s a complete mess.
‘It’s like seeing something that’s not even real.’
Kevin, who works as a project manager, says he was most concerned by huge cracks around the chimney breast.
He added: ‘I estimate there was around 300 tonnes of water on the floor and that that’s done it for the foundations of the house.
Mr Lorryman’s bungalow was among dozens in Snaith, Yorkshire, that were decimated by heavy rainfall at the end of last month. Pictured: The state of Mr Lorryman’s home today
Even though the floods have subsided, a foot of water remains at the scene. Pictured: Dark brown water inside Mr Lorryman’s home today
‘I walked in and was confronted with absolute devastation, the place was unrecognisable,’ Mr Lorryman said
‘The chimney has started to sink and in the long run that will get worse, along with the cracking in the walls.
‘I personally think that the house is a goner, which is very sad.’
Luckily, unlike home and business owners in other flood-hit areas of the country, Mr Lorryman’s house of 15 years, which is worth £200,00, was insured for flood damage.
The 56-year-old said last month that he believed the insurance company would deem the damage so bad that the home would have to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.
He revealed water came up through the drains on his street to submerge his four-bedroom dormer bungalow, worth an estimated £200,000.
The next morning, the water had risen to 9.5ft.
His family, including wife, daughter Kelsey Wilks, 29, her husband Christopher, 34, and their kids Joseph, five, and Georgina, four, are currently in a nearby rented property.
Mr Lorryman said: ‘I had a massive low a week or so ago, I couldn’t even talk to anyone about it because I was so upset.
Devastation: The Lorryman home began flooding on February 25 when the nearby River Aire burst its banks
His family, including wife, daughter Kelsey Wilks, 29, her husband Christopher, 34, and their kids Joseph, five, and Georgina, four, are currently in a nearby rented property. Pictured: One of the family’s bedrooms today
Mr Lorryman fears his home is now beyond repair. Pictured: The wrecked kitchen at his home, with water covering parts of the kitchen units, oven and fridge
‘But we’re slowly getting back on our feet and moving in with our lives, it’s important to remember there are people even worse off than us.
‘Now we’ve just got to roll our sleeves up and do what needs to be done, which includes seeing where things went wrong.’
Mr Lorryman believes his community in Snaith and nearby villages that were also flooded were ‘left in the lurch’.
He said: ‘The authorities are happy to spend lots of money to protect cities like Leeds but seemingly don’t feel the same way about us.
‘It would be a drop in the ocean but they simply haven’t done it.
‘The Environment Agency need to come out here and actually talk to people and hear what they have to say, it would do the world of good.
‘We could set up working groups and really get to the root of the problem so that this doesn’t happen again.
‘If they did that then the money could be allocated in the places it really needs to go.
‘I think we should have been better prepared, hopefully we are next time.’
The Lorryman home began flooding on February 25 when the nearby River Aire burst its banks.
It was an equally heartbreaking scene in neighbouring East Cowick, where Andria Savill watched in horror as the torrential flood swept through their five-bed home.
The mother-of-two expects to fork out between £40,000 and £60,000 to rebuild the home she and her husband Julian, 50, built together in 1999.
The 48-year-old beautician said: ‘There was so much filth it was disgusting.
‘Everything has been destroyed, our breakfast bar has literally moved into a different room, our floors have warped completely.
Furniture has also been forced into a jumbled pile by the force of the floodwater which ripped through the home
The 56-year-old said last month that he believed the insurance company would deem the damage so bad that the home would have to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch
‘Water has gone under the carpet and raised it up to the roof, so we had to just toss it all away.
‘We’re going to have to re-do all of the electrical wiring around the house. But that’ll be in six months when the house is finally dry.’
Ms Savill said her family had been warned about potential flooding but – having lived in the region their entire lives – didn’t expect anything ‘too bad’ – and were having a curry when the floods hit.
She said: ‘It was frightening to see the water as it was rising, it was a matter of minutes before it filled the front drive.
The garden of Mr Lorryman’s home is also wrecked with outside furniture strewn everywhere
Mr Lorryman could be forced to demolish his home if, as he fears, it has been damaged too extensively
Wrecked: The greenhouse of the home is seen filled with debris from the garden
‘It was just pure shock, none of us thought it would be so bad. The water was four feet high.
‘We have worked so hard to build our home from the ground up, years of blood, sweat, and tears, just to see your dream home wiped away.
‘I don’t think people realise how awful this has been. We’ve had to lose our homes and lose so many of our valuables.
‘All of our lives were in skips for everyone to see.’
The family is one of many who believe their village has been ‘left to drown’ in order to protect larger cities, like nearby Leeds.
She added: ‘It feels like this has been done on purpose. The way the water came in, it wasn’t rainfall.
‘We’ve lived here our entire lives and we’ve never seen anything like it.
Mr Lorryman believes his community in Snaith and nearby villages that were also flooded were ‘left in the lurch’
Luckily, unlike home and business owners in other flood-hit areas of the country, Mr Lorryman’s house of 15 years, which is worth £200,00, was insured for flood damage
‘It feels like they have just abandoned us, and said Leeds is more important, let’s drown them.’
Council workers issued sandbags to protect the property that evening but within hours floodwater had made its way in.
As the hours wore on the house became almost completely submerged and the only room to escape damage was the master bedroom in the attic.
A crowdfunding page to support people in Kevin’s community affected by the flooding has been set up.
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/snaithflood2020