Flooding in Rhuthun/Ruthin is back. Climate change will ensure that this remains the case for the foreseeable future, with all the human misery that will bring us.
It was largely thanks to social media that less than half-an-hour after the fire brigade was called a coronavirus-unhealthy number of people were sweeping down Clwyd Street and had gathered as a crowd on both sides of the water to witness history. Meanwhile, householders on Park Road were hurriedly making arrangements to prevent any ingress, should the lake extend to them, as it had 20 years ago.
The water rose and fell again within a short period of time. It was reported that 15 properties were directly affected. It is believed that the water came to Mill Street and Clwyd Street from the Clwyd around the back via Crispn Yard. There was no evidence to suggest that Pont Howkin had over-topped or that the water had carried any effluent.
Publicly, property owners were largely philosophical about the breach. The owner of Porth y Dŵr said that they knew they'd be flooded at some point. It was the 2000 floods that put paid to the former antiques business at the premises.
'Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation'—Frank McKinney Hubbard
We have a fascination with flooding in the same way that we have for the weather. After all, the weather changes often enough and yesterday we went from a month’s rain in one day to sleet then heavy snow.
As for our response to flooding, is it voyeurism? Or an experience of danger & destruction without there being any personal vulnerability?