Hull in print

Eighty-one might be a bit old to be at the centre of a media frenzy, but floods victim Sylvia Markham loved being star of the show when Government Minister John Healey paid her a visit.
She wasn't sure it was her when she first saw herself on TV.
"I thought I looked a bit old, if it was me," says the grandmother-of-six, who also has three great-grandchildren.
But it was indeed her – and in the space of a day she appeared on BBC Look North, Calendar, Viking Radio and in the Hull Daily Mail.
She had never seen her Hull City Council bungalow so full, what with all the reporters and cameramen.
Mr Healey, the Government's Flood Recovery Minister, had come to pay tribute to her courage at dealing with floods.
Despite being disabled, Sylvia refused to leave her flooded home, and lived in just one room, while workmen carried out repairs around her.
"There's nothing like being in your own home," adds Sylvia.
"So when I was asked to move out I said I didn't want to and asked if the workmen could work around me.
"The Flood Advice Service and of course my neighbours have all been a great help and saw I was alright.
Sylvia also received frequent calls and visits from her flood case worker Christine Huggins, as well as help with emptying her dehumidifier and moving furniture.
"She's been so cheerful throughout," says Christine.
"In fact there have been times when her spirit has kept us all going."

Kids were incredible

Among Mr Healey's engagements on his fifth visit to Hull was a trip to Rokeby Park school in Gershwin Avenue, west Hull.
Flood water gushed waist-deep throughout the school and destroyed everything.
"He spoke to the children about how they'd been affected," said head teacher Marie Fox.
"A lot of them were flooded at home and some are still living in caravans or upstairs or in temporary accommodation – but they have been incredible throughout."

Support for council

Meanwhile, Mr Healey pledged more money for Hull, and said Hull City Council would not be penalised for not meeting its performance targets in areas such as waste collection and recycling because of the floods.
Under the Government's performance system, councils who meet such targets can enjoy financial rewards and greater freedoms on spending.
But Mr Healey said a "common sense approach" was needed, especially where councils had been put under huge strain by the floods.
"I am ensuring we do not penalise authorities for temporary dips in performance resulting from the flooding.
"It's important that national performance requirements on local authorities do not act as a barrier to the process of getting their systems and services back in place following the floods."

Top and above: west Hull resident Mrs Dorothy Seabrook receives safety advice from a Hull City Council officer in her caravan.

Caravan safety

Flood relief families who are living in caravans this winter are receiving free advice and equipment to help them keep safe.
Hull City Council's Flood Advice Service is giving free caravan safety packs to residents who have been classified in either gold, silver or bronze categories in terms of their levels of need.
The packs, which will be delivered in person by council staff, contain burglar alarms, a fire-blanket, a combined personal attack alarm and a torch.
The staff will also undertake safety checks on caravans when delivering the packs, which have been made available by Hull Citysafe, thanks to a special Home Office grant.
"We know that there are at least 700 people across the city who are living in caravans, and it must be a very difficult and worrying time for them," says Cllr Kalvin Neal, who is responsible for community safety.
"I hope the packs will help provide some peace of mind until they can move back to their own homes."
If you haven't already reserved a pack, call the Flood Advice Service on 300 310.

Read the report

The Independent Review Body set up to examine the floods has recently produced its final report which can be viewed at www.hull.ac.uk/geog


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