Hope amid heartbreak

Emotions ran high in Matata yesterday as some families realised they might not be able to rebuild their damaged homes.

Paul Beech was physically sick when he returned to his bungalow with the Herald on Sunday.

Overcome with emotion, he dry retched when he went into his home, split in two by the floods.

"The council knew this could have happened to this place and they should never have let people build here."

Mr Beech, a mechanic, lost nine cars and all of his tools in the flood - all uninsured.

He broke down again as he recalled his wife breastfeeding their baby on the roof of a neighbour's house, waiting for emergency services. He is angry his family had to live through such horror and disgusted at some of the treatment of the residents.

"I called the insurance company and they said they hadn't heard of me so I had to get a hacksaw and get into the drawer to get our policy. It was lucky though, because I found our cat Isa stuck in the cupboard."

Neighbour Rob Taylor has been told his home will be demolished.

When chest-high water flooded his home, Mr Taylor swam to the shed for lifejackets for his wife Lynette and their 3-year-old daughter Olivia. The family reached the attic of a neighbour's home, where they stayed until they were rescued.

Other families also have stories of hope.

Bill Walley, heartbroken at the loss of his cat, Catherine, was reunited with her yesterday.

"I saw these little footprints in the mud downstairs - footprints that weren't there this morning," he said. "I went in there and searched for her and found her stuck under the house."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY