The full extent of the devastation caused by flooding across Greater Manchester in December has been revealed.
A report to be issued today ( Friday) to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority reveals that during the 24 hours leading up to 9am on 27 December, Lancashire and Greater Manchester were hit with widespread rainfall totalling between 70mm and 100mm with peaks of 130mm.
This compares to an average GM rainfall for the month of 80mm.
As a result of this unprecedented level of rain areas of Greater Manchester faced devastating fluvial and pluvial flooding with 2,449 homes and 521 businesses being flooded in 8 of its Boroughs: Bolton; Bury; Manchester; Oldham; Rochdale; Salford, Trafford and Wigan.
Upwards of 5,500 properties lost power and many properties lost water supplies. In Radcliffe two footbridges were swept away and a gas main exploded when a bridge collapsed, leaving residents without gas supplies.
Loss of power to traffic lights, mainly in Rochdale, led to road traffic accidents.
In Littleborough the flood defense wall which was protecting 200 properties was damaged and breached by flood water (a temporary repair has been carried out).
A number of residential care homes were evacuated, the foodbank in Rochdale lost half its stock, a 200 year old building in Summerseat collapsed into the River Irwell and the Mark Addy pub in Salford was flooded.
Impacts included collapsed culverts, scouring of waterway banks and damage to river flood defenses, canal walls, bridges and listed buildings.
There was also a significant slip of the Manchester Ship Canal wall adjacent to the Valero fuel storage site in Trafford which required a significant response from GMFRS.
The report adds that the response from all the agencies involved, and from the GM community, was little short of magnificent and as a result of their efforts there wasn’t one single fatality or serious injury directly related to the floods.
Councillor Mike Connolly, GMCA lead for Resilience and Civil Contingencies, said: “The response from all the agencies involved, and from the GM community, was little short of magnificent and, as a result of their efforts, there wasn’t one single fatality or serious injury directly related to the floods.
“More than 2,400 properties and 521 businesses in eight of our 10 boroughs were affected so it’s important we now do what we can to help people repair their homes, lives and businesses, learn what lessons we can about the response and take steps to try and prevent this happening again.”
A meeting has been arranged between the interim Mayor and the Environment Agency to discuss improving GM’s flood defences.
