113 - A dehumidifier to help after flood damage - March 2023

This donation of £410 has helped someone whose home was badly damaged by a flood from the flat above.


A week before Christmas, Emma discovered water coming into her home from the flat above.  Her neighbour hadn’t been at the flat for some months and the emergency plumber had to get authorisation from their supervisor to break into the property to be able to turn off the water upstairs. 



Emma said “the water came down like a torrent in the hallway and down the walls and through light fittings/smoke alarms in every room. It was so bad it was coming out of the walls outside.”


From the initial leak starting and her calling the emergency council number all in all it was 4.5 hours before the water was finally turned off. By then it was dark and the electricity wasn’t safe to leave on. 


Emma had to pack up her frightened cat and a few things in the dark with a small torch and the council paid for a taxi to take her to her mother's one bed bungalow. She slept on her mother's floor for just over a week while she waited for the electrics to dry out enough in her flat and for the council to reinstate them. Celebrating Christmas was put on hold. 


The walls were wet to touch for some time and stayed very cold and damp. She has had the heating on constantly and a very small dehumidifier to try and dry the place out but it is pretty ineffectual and she now has mould in every room including inside the kitchen cupboards. 


Emma is hoping to secure a council grant for redecoration and to replace some of her belongings. Her nominator asked if we might be able to fund a more effective dehumidifier suitable for a one bedroom flat, that would have more of an impact of trying to combat the damp, given it is going to take some months before the walls are completely dry.  We also helped Emma replace her pillows, which had also become mouldy and buy 2 rugs to cover the bare floors.


Emma has sent huge thanks to 500 together for helping her start to turn her flood damaged house back into a home.  She has sent us this message:


I just wanted to say I have already started to notice a huge difference since I received the dehumidifier, it is doing a grand job. It feels more like home again and the whole place is much warmer and more comfortable. It is such a relief, even my beautiful little cat is happier and playing again. Happy cat, happy human. 

Thank you again for your support, it was and is very much appreciated. 



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