A flooded village in Wales where people are being rescued from their homes by boat

Sandbags piled up in front of the doors because people have to enter and leave the house through the windows. Others had to be removed from their homes by firefighters by boat. And you have to deal with the damage.

If you think global warming is a hoax, the people of Llansteffan might want to talk to you. On Saturday, December 30, several residents had to be rescued from their homes after torrential rain caused flooding.

The Nant Jac along Water Lane leading to The Green overflowed, causing flooding of Morfa and rear gardens and properties along The Green. Local residents say the situation has been made worse by torrents of murky red water running down the hills and all over the roads leading to Llansteffan before falling to sea level.

There were further concerns about flooding across 54 river stretches in Wales on Tuesday 2 January, amid continued heavy rain and three weather warnings from the Met Office. Forecasters warned of strong winds of up to 80 mph in coastal areas of south Wales, with heavy rain forecast to continue for most of Tuesday.

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Llansteffan residents have confirmed that flooding continues to affect them and their community. Dyfed Powys Police have issued a warning warning people to avoid the Carmarthenshire town.

In a statement released on Tuesday, they said: “Please avoid the area. This morning we received a large number of calls relating to flooding in the Llansteffan area. Be careful when driving and allow more time for your trip. Thanks.”

Damien Pitman, a mental health professional of 20 years, has lived in Llansteffan with his family for more than 15 years. His house is located on the outskirts of the city and was damaged by a recent flood.

“It’s really surprising because you don’t expect it,” Damien said. “We’ve had cases where we’ve had floods and such, you’re talking about a few centimeters. But for a few days now, firefighters have been taking people out of their homes in boats, people have been evacuated and people have had to look for accommodation.

Speaking about Tuesday’s extreme weather conditions, he said: “Everything was fine this morning, but it rained a lot during the day. Where we are the river has been rising and falling, which obviously depends on the rain. “The trash on sidewalks and roads and everything else is probably worse than the water itself.”

And he added: “It’s bad. In Facebook group chats and community pages, you can see that everyone needs to participate. Some find it difficult to get to the store just to eat. People have to help each other with just the basics.”

Liz Dutch has lived in the city for 45 years. Like Damien, he said he had “never” experienced a flood like this. “If people don’t believe in the current problems of climate change, something else awaits them,” he said. – It’s crazy, it really is. I’ve never felt anything so bad. A few years ago we had floods, but this time it seems to be unprecedented.

“We had torrential rain on the Wednesday and Thursday after Christmas. Then Friday was a beautiful day, but then Saturday arrived and boom. It was absolutely thrilling. “All the hills and farms around us were saturated with water and then all the water ran away like a torrent.”

The floods significantly affected Liz’s home and living situation. She said, “I have to go in and out through the dining room window. “I can’t go in the back: our door is in the back.” She added: “The linoleum comes up from the kitchen floor, we believe it goes under the house, which is worrying. Since Friday we haven’t been able to flush the toilet, wash ourselves and everything else. And now that we’re out of power, we hope it’s just a trip. “We haven’t had hot water since 8am today.”

Speaking about the local authority’s response to the flooding, Liz was highly critical of Welsh Water and Carmarthenshire County Council for the support they provided to flood victims in the town.

But he added that communities in the village center and elsewhere have come together. She said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. “People were incredibly united, people were fantastic, all kinds of people came to us to help.”

He added: “Obviously there are much worse things happening in this crazy world. We are better off than in Ukraine, Gaza and Syria. This is so important that we have to set our priorities correctly. But at the same time, we would really appreciate very good communication about the authorities. How long can we live in this situation?”

WalesOnline has contacted Welsh Water and Carmarthenshire County Council for comment.