LIVING in a caravan on her front garden, Emma Hunter reveals how her world was turned upside down when the floods destroyed her home.
Emma, 34, who lives on Ashley Court lost everything she held dear including Christmas presents for her twin daughters and family.
“I managed to lift the television onto a bunk bed and a DVD player but everything else was destroyed,” said Emma.
“I had bought a couple of presents for my daughters, niece and nephew and god daughters.
“I lost over £100 in gifts for Christmas, it’s just been horrendous,” she added.
Emma was able to take time off work while trying to recover but is finding it difficult to think about what has happened.
“My head is all over the place, I can’t function properly. It is hard to describe but I am trying to get away from it,” she said.
“It is hard trying to get so much done.
“My daughters were both away when it all happened and one came home from university because she couldn’t concentrate, she was worried about me and her home.
“But there is nothing anyone could have done,” she added.
Emma was one of the unfortunate flood victims who did not have contents insurance when the floods stormed through St Asaph.
“We had to move everything out into the garden and I have no contents insurance so it’s all lost,” said Emma.
“It’s stupid but I didn’t expect it to happen, I have lived here all my life and I’ve never seen it so bad.
“A council officer saw me on own in my garden like a lemon with everything in the garden.
“He was so nice, he came back with a van and he moved everything into it, it was all ruined and had to be thrown away,” she explained.
Emma is now living in a caravan with her twin 18-year-old daughters Lauren and Elizabeth on their front garden.
“I was staying with friends and family but now there is three of us, so we are staying in the caravan to have a base,” said Emma.
“We were going to have Christmas at home all together with a friend but we went to her home instead.
“Everyone has been fantastic, I’ve received food parcels and so much help.
“My landlord has been fantastic and he’s even let me put a caravan on his garden, he’s been great,” she added.
Emma’s landlord, Paul Marfleet, had two of his properties flooded in November and has praised Emma’s positive outlook on what has happened.
“To be homeless at any time is bad. To be homeless at Christmas is devastating,” he said.
“Unfortunately, neither of our St Asaph tenants had contents insurance and we have worked with them to limit their stress. I think that this experience has resulted in a building of trust and mutual concern with our tenants.
“Emma is great. She has remained so positive about the whole experience, even though she has lost nearly everything she owns,” he added.
Paul, who has property insurance, was given multiple fans to dry out the houses by NFU Mutual.
“We will never again question the value of having good insurers,” said Paul.
“We now expect to have new plaster, new doors, new fitted kitchens and new flooring in both properties, and most of all, we hope to have both our tenants back in their homes as soon as possible.”