By Pam McClounie

Published at 14:09, Friday, 20 November 2009

FLOODED towns in west Cumbria will recover but it will be a long and painful process, says the man who helped Carlisle get back on its feet in 2005.

Help: Paul Hendy of Communities Reunited

Paul Hendy, who worked for Communities Reunited, said: “The Cumbrian people are very resilient. The community will come together.

“They need reassurance at a time like this. We learnt lessons from Carlisle and communities can recover and will recover. The people of Cockermouth, Keswick and the other affected towns can take hope from that but it will be a long and painful process.”

Mr Hendy still lives in Cumbria but now works for flood recovery with the Scottish Government.

He said: “We knew it was going to rain heavily. The Met Office got it spot on but we didn’t expect anything on a scale like this. It’s horrendous. I was watching on TV and I just couldn’t believe the scale of the disaster unfolding. I was flashing back to 2005 and what happened then.

“Carlisle suffered and got over it and Appleby lives with it. It’s quite unnerving really.

“Cumbria has more experience of flooding than anywhere I know.”

Other former Carlisle flood victims today sent a heartfelt message to people flooded in west Cumbria.

Stephen Farr, who lives on Edward Street in Carlisle with his wife Sarah Jane and their children, said: “It will be very frightening for the people involved. My heart goes out to them.

“They will be just watching and waiting to see what happens next and if the river levels will go down.

“I was walking by the River Petteril in Carlisle yesterday and it was high. I think everyone in Carlisle gets nervous when it rains now.

“I remember the atmosphere, particularly the power cuts.

“More rain is expected over the weekend, so it’s scary times for them.”

Louise McQuillin and Paula Blair lived on Rigg Street, off Caldewgate, Carlisle, in 2005.

Louise, a director of Cumbria Coaches, said: “What has happened in the last day or so is absolutely terrible. My heart goes out to those people who have been flooded.

“It really isn’t easy. It’s a horrible time for them and I know what they are going through.

“After you get over the shock it’s all the other things that come into play like sorting out insurance and things.

“We were using some of our coaches yesterday to transport passengers from the railway station out west and this morning I had to make lots of detours around Warwick Bridge.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk