It took just one day to flood Derek Cleaver's house in Lewes, East Sussex, October 2000. But it took over a year to get his home back to normal. Here's his story.

On October 12th 2000, Derek Cleaver received a phonecall at work from a neighbour. "I think you'd better come home," it said. "There's water in your back garden."

When he'd left for work at 7am, Derek noticed that the River Ouse was high. But within a few hours it had broken its banks and seeped into his garden. On his way home, Derek heard that the authorities were evacuating Lewes, which made him even more anxious to get home. Ironically, but not surprisingly, the national and local media had beaten him there.

When he returned home, the water had inched up to his door step. His first concern was to get his wife's dogs out to safety. His next priority was to stack his belongings upstairs, out of harm's way. "While I was doing that I heard this strange noise," he said. "Two foot of water was up against the conservatory, trying to get in." He quickly switched off the gas and electricity and got out as soon as possible.

By the evening, the water had risen to chest level and there it stayed for a day and a half.

Derek was happily surprised at how quickly the insurance companies responded to his call. "We got the insurance information out of the house on Saturday and the loss adjuster came out on the Sunday," he said. And by the Monday downstairs was completely gutted; furniture and kitchen units were dumped, floorboards ripped up and paper and plaster were taken off the walls.

That was the only quick part. It took over a year to get back to normal at a cost of £33,000, Derek reckons. The dehumidifiers were in until Christmas and although the water never reached upstairs, it still had to be fumigated and tested for airborne bugs.

"The insurance companies expected us to move back in February," Derek said. "And when we did move back in March (2001), we were living upstairs and eating out every night until June." After that, Derek took responsibility for finishing off the work himself. By October 2001 Derek was bricking in the conservatory, rendering the walls and making good the front door.

The one positive thing to have emerged from the experience is that Lewes will be more prepared in the future. Derek Cleaver has become flood warden for the area.

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- Life After The Flood
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- Flood Facts
- Flooding 2001
- Current flood warnings
- Environment Agency - Flooding
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency