A fundraising page set up by the Mayor of Monmouth to aid residents affected by severe flooding has raised over £16,000, far exceeding its initial £5,000 target. The JustGiving appeal was launched after Storm Claudia caused unprecedented flooding in the town, with the River Monnow reaching record levels.
The mayor described Monmouth as a “resilient and caring community” and noted an immediate anonymous donation of £1,000. The funds will support residents whose homes and businesses were destroyed by the floodwaters, which posed a “significant risk to life” and prompted a major incident declaration by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes called it a “really worrying time” and said existing flood defences would need to be reconsidered. Locals reported that the flooding was the worst since the 1980s, with one resident born in 1948 stating she had never seen such devastation.
Business owners described a “beautiful night” turning into a “nightmare,” with many salvaging belongings and clearing debris on Sunday morning. The Monmouth New Businesses group urged donations, highlighting the added hardship just a month before Christmas, when independent shops rely on festive trade.
