Salon owner battles to save business from floods
By Sophie Nutt | 27 February 2020 | Movers & Shakers, News
A salon owner is fighting to save her business from the floods caused by Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis that have hit the UK in recent weeks.
Brooke Evans is the owner of the Brooke Evans salon in Ironbridge, which has been severely flooded due to the ever-rising water levels of the River Severn and failed flood barriers, of which the Environment Agency has estimated up to 500 tonnes of water are passing through every second.
While many residents have been evacuated due to a severe flood warning being issued to the area, Brooke has remained in the town and has been sleeping in the salon to save her business from the flooding.
“To keep the floods at bay in the salon, myself and my parents – as well as my dog – have stayed here for just under two weeks to pump water out of the bay by the door as well as the wine cellar,” says Brooke. “When the flooding first began we had to do this every 40 minutes and when the water levels dropped we managed to get this down to every two hours.
“It’s so unfortunate that a number of storms have hit us in such a short amount of time. This has never happened before and it has been so difficult to keep the salon closed and not generate an income while still having to pay my staff – as a new small business it is crippling.
“We’re so fortunate to have received so much help in keeping the floods at bay and the salon safe – the Environment Agency has been amazing and the local community has really pulled together, with everyone lending a helping hand.”
Despite being faced with worsening conditions and Storm Jorge set to hit the UK this weekend (according to the Met Office), the salon owner is trying to keep in high spirits.
Brooke passes on her advice to any fellow salon owners that may find themselves affected by the floods: “In times like these you need to be surrounded by good people, a community that will help and, most of all, enthusiasm!
“It really is an awful time but there are people out there that are so much worse. I am a firm believer if you stay positive, good things will come – and also keep stocked up with chocolate and treats, this will help!”
Follow Brooke’s journey on Instagram.
