Around a dozen families were evacuated from their homes in Southpark Village, Darnley on Wednesday November 15 after more than one inch of rain fell overnight.

Emergency crews were called to the estate as houses and gardens were flooded. It will be at least two months and maybe as long as six months in some instances, before householders can return. Fire crews in Darnley pumped out water – two feet deep in places – for several hours.

Waulkglen Crescent resident Samina Sajjad and her family were among the people evacuated. They have been staying with relatives since. Said Mrs Sajjad’s brother Pervez Malik, ‘It has been traumatic for everyone because of the suddenness. These are new houses – between 9 and 12 years old – and you don’t expect that kind of thing to happen.’
He said insurance companies had put displaced people into hotels. Others, like his sister, had relatives and friends who could take them in.

The Southside was one the worst affected areas in South West Scotland, with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue attending 26 calls about flooding during the night.

Helped by Glasgow City Council and Scottish Water, Fire crews built a temporary 4ft barrier to divert the floodwater. Darnley Councillor Michael Kernaghan told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘It was a very alarming and traumatic situation. Everything possible was done by the emergency services and it was heartwarming to see the local community offering to help.’

Iona Colvin, Director of the South West Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP), was also on the scene. Trained staff from the CHCP set up a rest centre in the nearby Darnley Community Centre. CHCP staff are on call 24 hours a day for emergencies like this.

Iona said, ‘The flooding was a reminder of the importance of emergency planning. We were able to respond quickly to a difficult situation and provide practical support in a short space of time. Organising a rest centre was essential when people and homes were being affected by the rising water.’

The Nitshill M77 on-slip at junction 2 was also closed due to the flooding. The Council is assessing how the flooding happened to prevent a recurrence.