'Why I'm evacuating over Doncaster flood alert after seeing river rise a foot in an hour'

Phil Henderson decided to take all his possessions and equipment away from his Ferryboat Farm Fisheries angling lake and caravan site, at Old Denaby, because of his concerns over the rising water levels in the River Don today.

Doncaster is on Environment Agency flood alert and mayor Ros Jones declared an emergency incident because of forecast rain levels due to Storm Christoph.

Read more: Worried Doncaster residents tell how they are preparing for floods - and what they want to see improved

Phil was flooded first back in 2007. He bounced back although it took him several years to get money back from his insurance policy.

Then he was flooded again last November – without insurance. But he still fought to re-open, with help from friends, local businesses, and Doncaster Council.

But he has been hit by restrictions due to Covid 19 which have left him unable to take caravans and fishing matches for much of 2020 and 2021.

He said: “We’re evacuating. I think we are going to get hit again, the way the water is coming up the river.

"It’s come up about a foot in an hour this morning.

"I would rather have 48 hours evacuation than not do anything. I’ve been here before, and I feel it’s too close.

"I’m taking away all the furniture, equipment and white goods in vans.

"I don’t know if I could face getting things up and running again if it happens again. It took just short of five years after 2007. It’s only just over a year since the 2019 floods. I’ve hardly been able to earn an income since then.”

In 2019, he had to repair his home, replace equipment, and replace fish stocks.

In a tweet this week, Mayor Ros Jones said: “A major incident has been declared at a South Yorkshire Level in preparation for potential flooding over the next few days.

“Preparations are being put in place for potential flooding, emergency protocols were instigated on Sunday and will run alongside our Covid response.

“Council officers will continue to monitor around the clock alongside partner agencies, with further staffing and resources on standby

“I do not want people to panic, but flooding is possible so please be prepared.”

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