A mother in Kirkby feels trapped in her home after heavy flooding damaged her car
Kirkby: Sarah Coakley is feeling pretty down after a night of heavy rain left her car underwater. She got back home on New Year’s Day to find her vehicle completely submerged in dirty floodwater.
Living with her partner and two kids, Sarah said she’s devastated by the mess. Normally, she can park her car further down the road to avoid flooding, but since she was away for New Year’s Eve, she couldn’t do that this time.
“We just didn’t think about it,” she explained. “It was New Year, and we were having a drink.” Now, her car is wrecked, and her partner has been busy trying to soak up the water that’s seeped into their home.
United Utilities came out to help, saying the flooding was due to a blocked drain. They promised to clear it up within 24 hours, but the damage was already done.
Sarah described the floodwater as “knee-deep,” making it impossible for her and her neighbors to leave their homes. “I just feel trapped,” she said, adding that her two dogs are also stuck inside, looking at her to go out.
This flood has hit her hard, especially since she relies on her car for work as a care assistant. “The only way I can get out is by jumping over the wall and walking through the field behind my house, but it’s too dark in the morning,” she said.
She’s frustrated because she usually doesn’t mind the rain, but this time it’s caused serious damage. “I paid a lot for my car, and I don’t know if I can get reimbursed,” she lamented.
Knowsley Council sent a team to help clear the floodwater, but they left after a few hours without making any progress. Sarah said, “They said there was too much water. There should be a better solution to prevent this from happening.”
After the heavy rain on New Year’s Eve, Loughlin Drive was completely flooded. The Environment Agency is aware of the situation and is working to help affected communities, including Kirkby.
As if that wasn’t enough, a yellow weather warning for rain was issued for parts of Merseyside, with more bad weather expected soon. It’s been a tough start to the year for Sarah and her neighbors.
