Bootle flood victims return home and have one person to thank

FAMILIES WERE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES IN SEPTEMBER 2024 04:00, 02 Jun 2025Updated 07:02, 02 Jun 2025 The victims of a severe flooding incident have finally been allowed to return home

after spending eight months in hotels and temporary accommodation. Emergency services were called to Bulwer Street in Bootle on September 30 after water started gushing into people's

homes - with many requiring rescue boats to get out safely. It was the second major flooding incident reported on this road in the last 14 years and left dozens of residents effectively

homeless as their living spaces became submerged - ruining household items such as TVs and sofas as well as personal mementos and family heirlooms. People have been living in temporary

accommodation for the last eight months as they waited for their properties to be renovated and repaired after suffering extensive flood damage. Thankfully, most people have returned home

after what has been a very difficult time. As a way of commemorating their return and to show their appreciation to a valued member of the clean-up team, Bulwer Street residents organised a

celebration on Friday afternoon (May 30) where they presented Forshaw Group support manager, Paula Prescott, with flowers and chocolates. Article continues below The Forshaw Group were the

company tasked with the clean-up operation after the floods and were contracted by United Utilities to renovate people's houses. As part of this process, Forshaw's placed Paula on

site and she made herself available every day to hear residents concerns. Paula said: "My job was just to make sure everyone was ok really. "I've dealt with similar situations

before so I know what to expect. I know how they feel when it first happens, they're all in shock for days. It's just horrendous and all you can do is just try and support people.

"The people here have been absolutely brilliant. I remember when my dad died during all this and the residents bought me flowers then as well and had a big whip round. I couldn't

believe it and they're such lovely people." However, the residents at Bulwer Street are keen to stress Paula's importance to them as they navigated some of the most difficult

months of their lives. Linda Crilly lives at 30 Bulwer Street and described her feelings about the latest flood incident: "It has happened before, so we kind of knew what to expect, but

still, it is a huge shock to have to leave your house when all the sewage water is coming in. "Now that more and more people are back home there is a sense of relief but it's

tempered with a bit of caution. "What I will say is the response has been a lot better this time, in the sense that we've had people with contact numbers and names that we can get

in touch with if there's been any problems. Most people have been very helpful and especially Paula." These sentiments were shared by Sarah, 34, who lives with 13-year-old daughter

Izzy and Sarah's guide dog Ronnie. She said the flood in September last year - and the events directly afterwards - were incredibly stressful for her family. Article continues below

Sarah added: "We were living in a hotel for several weeks before we actually got a temporary home, and that was stressful enough, because we were moving from hotel to hotel. It's

been a rollercoaster to be honest. "We are so happy to be back home but when it rains it does make you worry, but throughout it all we've had Paula who has been amazing and done so

much including giving me a hug. We'd be lost without her."