DEVASTATED residents yesterday began trying to piece back together their flood-damaged homes in Normandy Crescent.

The street in Cowley was left swamped after a main water pipe running behind the street burst for the second time in seven years.

Fifteen houses and eight flats were severely water damaged and a further 27 houses were cut off.

It was the second time Shaukat Ali, 61, and his wife Musarat Ali, 59, were hit by the floods, after a water main burst in 2007.

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The flood left the house with muddy floors, raised floorboards and damage to belongings in their shed.

Father-of-four Mr Ali said: “It’s been a terrible shock. My wife could not get over the last shock and now we have had another one. It’s probably worse than the first time. We had just redecorated and everything was new. We will have to spend so much money to bring it back to normal. It’s a complete disaster.”

Oxford Mail:

  • Kara Hays in her groundfloor flat

Kara Hays, 32, and husband Brett, 34, were also left distraught after the disaster struck their ground floor family flat.

The pair were due to hold a seventh birthday party for son Alfie but are now just trying to salvage presents.

Waitress Mrs Hays said: “All I could think about was his birthday and just making him happy.”

Photographs from their 2010 wedding were left soaked, as well as their £3,000 sofa, television, beds and DVDs.

Oxford Mail:

  • One of the many skips full of the residents’ ruined possessions

The family is also still searching for missing six-year-old cat Cleo, who they have not seen since the water flooded their home.

London-based company Systematic Security have been patrolling the street since Tuesday evening after concerns looters would target empty flood-hit properties.

The team will provide constant surveillance support with four officers on site during the day and three during the night. Security officer Usman Sherazi said security officers could be manning the street for the next six months.

RETURN COULD TAKE MONTHS

  • IT could take several months before residents from the 23 households evacuated can return to their homes permanently, Thames Water has said.

Yesterday the company said all residents had been found temporary accommodation.

Spokeswoman Becky Trotman said: “The majority of people are in hotels but going forward that may not be suitable so we may look at longer term solutions like short-term rental accommodation.

“It’s about treating them all as individuals and what suits each household best.

“We can’t put a figure yet on how long they will be out of their homes but it’s safe to say we’re talking months rather than weeks. It will vary from household to household depending on the level of damage done to their properties.”

Jacqui Litchfield shows around the home she shares with Mark Pearson

Engineers yesterday had to to dig down up to 15ft to reach the pipe before Thames Water could understand the cause of the damage.

The company also had loss adjustors on site, as well as support staff to offer advice to affected residents.

No homes have been cut off from their water supply.



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