Roughly 600 homes and 100 businesses were devastated by the worst flooding to hit the north-east in recent memory, it was revealed yesterday.
The figures were revealed as Aberdeenshire councillors said they had seen “the north-east at its very best” following the havoc caused by Storm Frank and further heavy rainfall across the region in the weeks following it.
At a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council yesterday, chief executive Jim Savege said the local authority was now “taking stock” of the events of the past month.
The River Dee was the first to burst its banks on Hogmanay, with the worst hit place the village of Ballater.
A week later, with rainfall persisting, the Rivers Don, Ury and Ythan overflowed forcing families in Inverurie, Kintore, Ellon and Kemnay out of their flooded homes.
Mr Savege said: “We are taking stock now, 500-600 residential properties and 100 businesses flooded as a result of excess water.
“We are putting together a flooding plan, working with many volunteers and other agencies to help businesses and communities to get back on our feet as normal.
“We think that work is going to take many months. Our work is going to be quite extensive.
“There are some real questions for us to consider like matters of how you manage water; and in terms of community resilience in how you can be better prepared for similar experiences in the future.
“I think the emotion is one of great sadness to see the effects on people but also one of pride.”
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor Geva Blackett said: “Human nature, I think, we have seen at its best. In the review that is going to follow we need to solutions that don’t just involve shoving problems onto the next community along the river.”
Fellow ward councillor Peter Argyle, convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “What happened in Ballater was unprecedented. The water was 5ft higher than it had ever been before. The council response was superb.
“The Cairngorm National Park is very much involved in the next stage going forward. There are huge issues. The damage to the footpath network around Ballater is unbelievable. Paths no longer exist.”
Inverurie councillor Bryan Stuart said: “The bunding in Inverurie did fail and the main concern residents have now is, going back into their own homes, they want to feel secure when they are there. I really want to see some really quick action.”
Council co-leader Richard Thomson said it was time to think about getting the communities back on their feet.
He added: “I think we have seen the north-east at its very best over the past few weeks.”
West Garioch councillor Sheena Lonchay said: “Kemnay and Premnay have felt a little bit forgotten about. I just want to pay tribute to the people there who really pitched in.”