Mum forced to quit home by floods

Jul 26 2007 By Catherine Lillington, Birminghamn Mail

A WOMAN today recounted the moments the flood waters of Gloucester engulfed her home forcing her to flee with her young son back to family in Birmingham.

Gemma Gihair moved to Gloucester just under a year ago hoping the fresh air would be good for her nine-year-old Callum, who has asthma and ADHD.

The 27-year-old, who is also asthmatic, will return home todayto find out the full extent of the damage to the two-bedroom terrace she rents. But she is worried what she will discover, having been told it is unfit to live in.

Gemma, who is unemployed, is uninsured for her belongings and is waiting to find out if she will be covered by the landlady's own insurance.

Since the flood both Gemma and Callum have also suffered vomiting and stomach cramps.

Gemma, who has taken shelter at her mum June Richardson's home in Fordraft Close, Woodgate Valley, since Monday, found her road under water after returning from shopping.

"The water was just under a foot deep," she said.

"I was trying to mop it out and lift things off the floor but it was just coming in too quickly. I was devastated to see all my possessions being ruined around me."

Gemma said traffic passing along the road sent waves gushing through the rest of the house. She also saw raw sewage floating around her home.

She and her son were eventually evacuated to a leisure centre.