Wainfleet flooding update: The response so far

The first phase of work to support people living in and around Wainfleet is complete, and work on Phase 2, the Hardship Grants, is now getting under way.

Freemasonry supported relief efforts with substantial donations amounting to £82,000, made up from contributions of £25,000 each from the Province of Lincolnshire, the MCF, and the Mark. This was followed up with contributions of £2,000 from the Mark Province of Cumbria, and £5,000 from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset.

Relief efforts are being co-ordinated by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, and have been summarised by the organisation’s Joint CEO James Murphy.

The response

• Total funds donated: £95,000 (target £100,000)
• Donors: 76 (more still coming forward)
• In Phase 1 of the Flood Appeal, within days, the Lincolnshire Community Foundation was able to offer immediate financial assistance of £500 per home affected
• Of those 72 homes affected the LCF reached 59 (82%) in Phase 1
• Three requests for assistance were rejected as they were outside the scope of the fund (not within geographic area of benefit and/or flooded internally)
• Phase 1 has distributed £29,500 of the monies raised thus far
• Hardship Grants will be awarded up to £1k. More financial assistance will be considered in exceptional circumstances
• All 72 homes have been notified of the Phase 2 Hardship Grants that will be available

The problem and the damage

• Rainfall equivalent to 10 weeks fell in two days, resulting in a breach of the banks of the nearby River Steeping  and near-critical compromise of the pumping station
• The response to the flood was classified as a declared emergency requiring multi agency input
• About one third of East Lindsey District Council’s workforce was deployed to address the immediate impact of the flood
• About 580 homes were evacuated
• Loss and damage to homes was experienced up to 28 miles away, well beyond the village boundary
• 72 homes internally flooded
• 550 acres of farmland suffered complete crop loss immediately prior to harvest
• 3000 acres of wider farmland affected to a lesser extent

James added: “We set our budget for Phase 2 in line with our ambition to reach every home affected, however we will seek to raise a further £115,000 (matched against our newly designated Crisis Response Fund) to cover future countywide unforeseen demand.”

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