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Flood victim, 95, lived in Wetherspoons after her home was destroyed and died before she could return
Jean Powell, 95, died in September after spending almost 10 months in a Wetherspoons guest room when flooding destroyed her Monmouth flat. She had hoped to return home, but the lengthy repairs and declining health meant she never could, illustrating the lasting personal cost of severe flooding.
The River Monnow reached 18 times its normal level during Storm Claudia last November, flooding more than 400 properties in what was described as a one-in-75-year event. Powell stayed in the town centre, with pub staff and neighbour Wyn Smith supporting her; residents’ repairs took many months. The Met Office says record-breaking wet winters have become more frequent with global warming.
In short
- Jean Powell died before returning to her flooded flat.
- She spent almost 10 months in a Wetherspoons guest room.
- Monmouth’s flood damaged more than 400 properties.
Explained simply
Jean Powell lived in Monmouth, a town in south-east Wales, where the River Monnow runs through the centre. Storm Claudia brought severe flooding to the town last November, damaging more than 400 properties, including Powell’s flat.
Floodwater can leave homes needing extensive repairs, and residents may have to find somewhere else to live while the work is done. In Powell’s case, pub staff and her neighbour Wyn Smith helped support her during her stay in a Wetherspoons guest room.
The Met Office says exceptionally wet winters have become more frequent as the climate warms. The effects of flooding can therefore extend well beyond the time when water recedes, disrupting people’s homes and daily lives for months.