By Matthew Robertson
Heavy rain has caused havoc in north and east Scotland with homes flooded, roads closed and trains cancelled.
Torrential rain in the centre of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire has caused the river to burst their banks leading the town to go under water. This obviously has had a direct impact on its inhabitants as they will be unable to commute due to the dangerous and dire conditions.
Arbroath in Angus was left virtually cut off,with all main routes in and out – including the railway line from Edinburgh to Aberdeen – impassable.
The residents in Stonehaven were forced to fill their pillows with sand from the beach as they looked to thwart and resist the high incoming bombards of water after the rivers Cowie and Carron burst their banks.
Numerous streets in the town had to be evacuated.
John Strachan, one of the first fireman who was helping the evacuation process said “I have been here for 33 years and this is the highest I have ever see it,(the floods) it’s quite worrying actually. We are trying to get people to stay upstairs in their property if they can. I thats not possible then we are carrying out the rescues where we are taking people along to the town hall to safety so they can get some water and get heated up”
The town authorities have been run off their feet as they have utilized all efforts in attempt to help the public retain their homes and wellbeing.
There were also several schools closed or partially closed in Aberdeenshire.
Inspector Kevin Wallace, of Grampian Police, said the force’s focus had moved to the Huntly area, where dozens of houses are affected by high waters from the river Deveron.
He said water was getting into a large number of properties on the north side of Huntly.
Dozens of people from a local care home – many elderly and vulnerable – were taken to safety by rescuers after a river burst its banks.
Roads have been closed across the Grampian and Tayside regions. There are three severe flood warnings for parts of the River Isla and River Spey.
Many roads in the same area are impassable, with Tayside Police urging motorists not to drive unless absolutely necessary and there were landslides in Arbroath and Brechin.
The Met Office said 53mm of rain fell in Aberdeen on Sunday, nearly three-quarters of the usual rainfall for the whole of November.
It fell on ground that was already saturated as the area had seen more than twice as much rainfall as normal for October.
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said it had experienced its highest demand overnight, with about 350 calls coming in a 12-hour period.
