Graham Park residents pick up pieces after July 1 flood destroys homes
South-east Nepean community hit by two tornadoes in past decade now faces massive cleanup from rainstorm that brought five feet of flooding into basements.
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Residents of Graham Park, a Nepean community southeast of Bayshore, are in recovery mode after a massive rainstorm on July 1 flooded hundreds of homes.
Within 30 minutes of downpour rain, water streamed down driveways into garages and ground floors. Some homes saw water levels rise five feet in basements, destroying furniture, flooring, drywall, and family mementos. On nearby Queensline Drive, residents piled the contents of their homes onto lawns for garbage collection crews.
The flooding hit a community already marked by extreme weather. Over the past decade, Graham Park has endured two tornadoes that downed large trees and left residents without power for days. Marina Petrovic, a long-time resident, describes the pattern as a shared trauma. "We've checked all the natural disaster boxes," she said, sitting among stacked plastic storage bins that couldn't save her family's mementos from the flood.
For some families new to the area, the devastation is the first major disaster they've faced. One couple who bought their home less than a year ago after moving from Australia is facing a $25,000 cleanup bill after sewage water flowed into their basement. Neighbours helped each other through the 29°C heat with humidity making it feel closer to 35°C.
Garbage trucks have made multiple rounds, and the city waived collection limits to help residents clear their properties.
