A fund set up to help frontline agencies deal with the Salford flooding clear-up is powering ahead with over 80 donations from across the country and worldwide.
In times of distress the people of Salford and friends have rallied round to support those affected by the floods, with a GoFundMe page beating the initial target of £1000 in a just two days, with the total at the moment being £1,324.
Boxing Day saw Salford rocked by floods and up to 1,200 left without power.
The floods saw many left to spend the rest of their Christmas with friends and family and at worst, in makeshift community shelters.
A major clean up on Chapel Street outside the Lowry Hotel was required after floodwaters left huge amount of debris and rubble, with many residents dubbing it the “new Manchester beach”.
Free food was handed out at Heath Avenue and St John Street – read all about that here.
The process of clearing up after the floods is now taking hold, however, with hundreds of community volunteers rallying round to clear out ruined homes, mop up what’s left of the water and offer everything from dehumidifyers to matresses and bedding.
MORE: Councillor argues flood defences prevented further devastation
DONATE: Salford Flood Recovery Fund
Many residents have no idea when their homes will be habitable again.
Luckily rain forecast overnight from Storm Frank did not materialise in the same way as four days ago.
SalfordOnline.com reporter Jack Donnelly has been down to the worst-affected areas around Heath Avenue in Lower Broughton this morning and reports that the River Irwell water levels are holding steady.
Tom Rodgers, SalfordOnline.com News Editor said: “The way that local communities have pulled together in the face of disaster is really inspiring and a credit to them all.
“This is the true face of Salford.
“We set up this fund as a way to take advantage, quickly, of the groundswell of positive public opinion to help those families and communities most in need.
“It’s organisations like our own that are not-for-profit and can react quickly to changing circumstances that the ordinary people on the ground find most useful.
“The SalfordOnline Facebook group, which has now passed 15,000 members, is also a huge help as a place for people to go to get up to the minute information and advice about what is happening.
“It’s become a central point of contact for matching up the hundreds of offers of help and donations from volunteers with the areas and groups that need it most.
“I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated so far, whether you live in Lower Broughton, London or Los Angeles. I’d also like to thank all SalfordOnline’s community writers, photographers and co-ordinators who have helped mitigate the impact of flood damage as well as highlighting the best work going on in the city. If you can donate anything, no matter how small, please do so as we need all the help we can get.”
Now the hard work of putting flood-hit areas back together continues with representatives from St Boniface’s Club and Salford City Council meeting at the Humphrey Booth Centre in Swinton today.
We’ll post further updates as we get them.
You can donate here.
Main image by Andy Pratt
