The day at Harnser helping neighbours in the floods and preparing for the family arrival. Jack said that the 1912 floods were far worse when seven inches of rain fell in a day.
Awoken by the radio alarm again after staying up a little late and then slow to get my breakfast and then take the dog for a walk. I went down Crabbett's Marsh road again and throughout I was relieved to see that the water was a few inches down. Sections of the Ropes Hill Dyke Road were clear of the water but others were still under though I was still concerned that the new work was soggy and liable to deteriorate under early traffic movements. Jack was along later in the morning and we exchanged views on the reasons for the flood and he told me that the 1912 flood levels were much higher still. It is always going to be difficult for the water levels to drop when heavy rain coincides with high tides and north-westerly winds.
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To my journal and then to prepare and eat my lunch; pleased at the dryness and warmth of Harnser and comforted by the completion of its planning consents. The Parker family arrived in the afternoon and, as their drive was flooded, I walked over and helped them unload all of their belongings onto the platform of their raised bungalow. They have a big Renault Espace station wagon which, with three children, a grandmother and their luggage, was crammed full. Then the arrival of Trevor and Joan Grey.
They were sucking up the excess water from their flooded carpets with the intention of lifting them out and letting the place dry out whilst they stayed in a hotel. I was rather late, therefore, getting down to the washing up and still doing this when my family arrived. They were able to drive straight into the garage and unload on dry land and we were soon settled inside in the warm. Decided against going out for tea and so just relaxed and watched TV programmes "Harry" and "Casualty". The flood waters slowly subsiding but by only an inch a day if that.
During the 1912 floods, victims huddled in their homes as the waters rushed in, ruining what little possessions they had. Houses, factories and bridges began to crack and crumble and as the waters rose the city was sinking. The rains were described as like a 'driving snow blizzard.' Norwich and a 40-miles radius around the city was cut off from the rest of the country. Road and rail lines were cut off for two days as four months rain fell in 24 hours. Four people died – from a baby to a pensioner. It was also reported at the time that a doctor was not able to visit a patient in her Norfolk village home because of the floods and she later died.