Torrential downpours on Sunday (September 17) resulted in a month of rainfall in one day – battering parts of East Devon and Exeter and prompting flood alerts to be issued by the Environment Agency (EA).
Devon County Council (DCC) said the clear-up from Sunday’s floods was ‘likely to take several days’.
A deluge of rain in areas of Devon on Sunday afternoon resulted in many rivers breaching their banks and floodwater settling on roads and farmland.
The areas of Broadclyst, Stoke Cannon, Clyst St Mary, Huxham and Rewe have been affected, the EA said.
Some flood alerts remain in place for areas of East Devon, where river levels remain high, prompting a warning from the EA to ‘avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding’.
Fields near Killerton, East Devon.
Photo: EDN.
Flooded fields near Killerton, East Devon.
Photo: EDN.
The scene on Monday morning, September 18, 2023. Photo: EDN
The EA has warned flooding was ‘possible’ in the areas of East Devon close to the River Clyst .
Devon County Council said heavy downpours left several roads across the county either impassable or closed on Sunday afternoon.
In East Devon, roads that were impacted included the A375 Sidbury, Honiton Road in Exeter, and the A376 Clyst St Mary to Clyst St George.
There were also reports of flooded properties including Budleigh Salterton, Clyst St Mary, Cullompton, Dartmouth, Exeter, Harberton, Harbertonford, Kentisbeare, Kenton, Ashill and Topsham.
Flooded fields near Killerton, East Devon.
Photo: EDN.
Fields near Killerton, East Devon.
Photo: EDN.
Some eight tonnes of mud were removed from the A381 at Halwell, in the South Hams, thanks to the fire service and Devon Highways. And fallen trees blocking the Teign Valley Road were also taken away.
The county council said additional staff from Devon Highways were drafted in to help respond to a number of incidents across the county, revealing the control centre received around 150 calls throughout the day.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, DCC cabinet member for highway management, said: “The weather was horrendous at the weekend and our teams worked flat out on Sunday to respond to issues caused by the torrential rain right across the country. Our thanks go to them for their commitment and dedication to work in all conditions.
“The recovery work is ongoing and although a lot of the water has subsided this morning, there is still a huge amount of clear-up work required and damage that needs to be repaired, so it will take some time.”
He added: “There may still be some issues on county’s road network which haven’t been reported to our teams so I would urge everyone who is out and about to please take extra care.”
The county council said it is working with local authority partners and the Environment Agency on a flood investigation report, in a bid to identify the scale of the damage caused by the weather.
To submit information about flooding in your community email floodrisk@devon.gov.uk
Community news and photos from around East Devon – Exmouth, Cranbrook, Sidmouth, Honiton, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Ottery St Mary, Axminster
