Manchester City Council is mobilising additional support for local communities who were affected by flooding on New Year’s Day.
More than 1,000 people were forced to evacuate in the Didsbury and Harpurhey areas of Manchester due to exceptionally heavy rain causing the River Mersey to reach a 66-year high; as well as in the city centre itself where canals spilled over.
Although the flooding was not as severe as feared, there was disruption caused and people have still been unable to return to their homes and businesses.
From the outset of the flooding the council has worked with partners in the Environment Agency and the emergency services to coordinate recovery efforts and help get residents and businesses back to normality.
Council officers are this week visiting affected residents to share advice, information and guidance on steps to take after flooding. This includes information on proper disposal of contaminated household items, food and water safety and where to get second-hand furniture should they need it.
Residents are also being advised on how to contact their insurance company to start a claim soon as possible and allow the insurer to advise on next steps.
Council staff are also helping local businesses who have been affected – in particular in the Didsbury and Northenden areas – providing guidance to food and hospitality businesses on how to effectively clean their premises, proper clean up, and getting electricity restored after being cut during the flood. Work is also under way to clean up our parks and other public spaces which have been affected.
A key task has also been getting the highway network back up and running as there was a significant impact to it, in particular along Palatine Road. Debris has been cleared and work is ongoing to clean gullies of waste that was washed into the drain network. Staff will also prioritise repairs according to safety risk and will be deployed in those areas where the problems are worst.
The Environment Agency is working to implement repair plans and to assess damage to the riverbank, as there have been a number of breaches to the flood basin defence wall. As the water level continues to fall assessments will be made on how and when repairs can be made to our river defences.
Whilst most of the issues experienced were due to the intensity of the rainfall, investigations will take place where appropriate to understand how plans can be made for future severe weather events.
Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council said: “I would like to pass on my deep thanks to everyone who has helped in the response to the floods. We have seen incredible community spirit and a real coming together in flood affected areas.
“For those affected, this was not the start to 2025 they wanted, and I want to pay tribute to the resilience and bravery of the people who had to be evacuated. The stress and upset caused by such an event should never be underestimated, and we know it continues to be a distressing time for those affected. I want to reassure people that the Council is on hand to provide support and guidance to anyone who needs it.
“It is now our priority to get people back in their homes and business back on their feet as quickly as possible and we are working to make sure all affected residents can access the advice and support they need.
“The clean-up and recovery of our neighbourhoods is underway, and once that has been achieved, we will be convening the relevant agencies to see what more can be done in the future to try to prevent this scale of flooding and damage.”
