What impact did the floods have? The Inverness flash floods of September 2002 caused the whole town to be cut off by road, rail and air for a period of time. The information below outlines the impact to the city. Houses Around 15 homes had to be evacuated by lifeboat crews and the coastguard. Many privately owned and council homes were damaged by floodwater. About 15 homes on Cranmore Drive were affected by flooding. Silt and debris from the flood water was dumped in gardens and inside houses. The main areas affected were Drakies, Hilton, Smithton, Raigmore and Culloden. As at January 2003 some residents were still not back in their homes. Roads The A82 from Fort William to Inverness was closed at Abriachan due to a landslide. The A9 at Raigmore Interchange was closed as flood waters caused the road to buckle. The B9039 Newton to Ardersier road, the main road to the city's airport, was closed due to flooding. The A862 was blocked by flooding. Silt and debris blocked roads and pavements making them difficult to pass. Structural damage to a bridge on Drummond Road by flood waters from the Ault na Skiah Burn caused the road to be closed. The pathway into Holm Park from Holm Primary School collapsed due to an overflow from the Holm Burn. Emergency Services Coastguard, life boat and fire services rescued 200 guests from a hotel, evacuating them with dinghies and rubber boats. Hospital Access roads to the hospital were flooded. Water seeped in to the basement of Raigmore Hospital causing a risk to patient files and x-ray equipment. The hospital used as a temporary holding bay for evacuated residents. Railway Parts of the track were washed away at Milton of Culloden. The Inverness to Aberdeen line was closed between Inverness and Nairn. The Highland Main Line was closed between Inverness and Aviemore Other Damage Silt and debris were washed into the drainage system. Many cars in a hotel car park were submerged in water and subsequently written off. The Caledonian canal had to be closed as it was blocked by a landslide.