RSPCA Shelter flooded, damage bill starts to climb after flooding leaves houses and cars damaged
Australia’s oldest RSPCA shelter took a battering in the severe storms that lashed SA – among hundreds now assessing the damage.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter was hit hard by severe storms last night forcing dog evacuations.
It comes as the damage bill starts to mount across the city after severe storms lashed the state.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said 12 kennels were inundated with rain, forcing staff and volunteers to evacuate dogs.
Several roofs also leaked, including through the light fitting in the cats’ post-surgery recovery room, with repairers are now on-site.
“As with every time it floods, we’re reminded of how much we need the new facility currently under construction at O’Halloran Hill and on track to open next April,” An RSPCA spokeswoman said in a statement.
“We have the oldest RSPCA shelter in Australia, built in the late 70s/early 80s.”
Meanwhile residents have begun cleaning up after flash flooding.
Most of the houses along Le Hunte St in Wayville have been evacuated but that did not save them from Tuesday’s rain.
The State Emergency Services closed the street from about 8:30 to 11:00am to assess the house damage and clear roads from water carried debris.
But resident Andy Wotmeyer, 70, saw it unfold as he woke at 3:00am after hearing the loud clapping of the thunderstorm and the heavy hitting rain.
Mr Wotmeyer said water levels peaked around 6:00 – 7:00am.
“This is the worst it’s ever been and I’ve been here since 1994,” he said.
“The fences have been ripped and they’re toppled and the beautiful backyard (with planted and potted flowers) has been rearranged, to put it delicately. Everything has moved downward.”
Despite the damage to his property, Mr Wotmeyer like many other neighbours was busy helping those most affected by the flooding.
He only turned to look after his house closer to noon.
Another resident was Colleen McDonnell, 52, who’s day was ruined after she couldn’t get her car out of the driveway to take her daughter to school.
“We couldn’t actually get out of the driveway when it was school time,” Ms McDonnell said.
“The driveway was completely flooded and our car was essentially stuck in the mud but the real problem is out basement.
“We’ve been doing buckets for a few hours now and our neighbour has just given us a pump to ease the load. The basement water was about 8cm high.”
Her daughter Mariette Gates, 14, added that she saw cars floating on the streets.
“There was a car floating in the water, it was moving but it was tilted with the back wheels up in the air,” Mariette said.
“The lights were also turned on and we couldn’t see if there was anyone in the car.”
Another individual impacted was Gerhard.
Gerhard, declined to share his last name, was in despair as he is the landlord of four units along Le Hunte and he claims to have complained to the local council before.
Gerhard has been marking the increasing height of the flooding as proof that the sewer system needs to be improved.
“The ground units are beyond rehabilitation,” he said.
“The carpets are ruined and the wall – we still need to assess the extent and the cost of the damage to the walls.”
The SES regional co-ordinator Stephanie Zakrezewski has reminded people to be careful when driving along flooded streets and urged people to remind themselves with flash flooding risks.
SA’s dirtiest suburbs and the $3m graffiti price tag
Ratepayers have forked out millions to clean up the mess left behind by vandals in just two years. Search the state’s graffiti hotspots and see where you area ranks.
Outback icon hangs up boxing gloves for political ring fight
When a tent boxer and Pauline Hanson entered the ring no one could have predicted what happened next. Now the Birdsville Races regular has a new fight on her hands.