05 Oct 2024
Two St Albans PE teachers have been left homeless after the recent torrential rain flooded them out of their family home.
Lizzie and Steve McDermott both work at St Albans High School for Girls, Lizzie at the Prep in Wheathampstead and Steve at the Senior School.
Last week’s extraordinarily heavy downpour saw rain wash off neighbouring roads and fields and into their cottage at Darley Hall, just north of Harpenden, first through newly-replaced doors and then eventually through the walls.
Their neighbours called the fire and rescue service when the water rose halfway up the door, who told the couple they should lock up and find somewhere safe to stay instead.
The entire ground floor of their cottage has now been ruined, and their car was also damaged by the flood waters.
Lizzie said: “My stepdaughter and her friend, who are both nine were with us at the time and they used toy buckets to try to help. Both of them were pretty shaken up as you’d imagine.
“Our insurance company has started the necessary processes but have told us it will be at least four to six months before we can go home. They can’t assist with flood defences so we are trying to save up to protect the house while the repairs are happening.
“We are currently separated from my stepdaughter – she is staying at her mum’s – as we don’t have space to stay with us and the dogs in our small one bedroom that we are staying in behind our local pub.
“We are also desperately applying for flood grant support as the local council said it doesn’t meet their criteria for repair.
“Our local community has been wonderful and our faith in humanity has significantly improved, but this was our dream home that has turned into a nightmare. We don’t have lots of spare money, we work hard to provide for our family, and what money we have went into our home.
“We are proud people and we don’t normally ask for help, but anything your readers can donate to us would be gratefully received.”
Lizzie and Steve have set up a GoFundMe page at at https://gofund.me/d0b70f28, which has already raised £3,800, and are hoping additional publicity in the St Albans Times will ensure they hit that figure.
