"The situation is dire, but the community really is pulling together with a fantastic spirit." These were the words of Michelle Harris, who has been co-ordinating The Salvation Army's relief efforts in flood-hit Tewkesbury.

"When the rains started on Friday, we were called out to the [Salvation Army] hall... and we found ourselves stranded here, unable to get home," she said.

Tewkesbury, at the confluence of the rivers Avon and Severn has been one of the areas most severely affected by Friday's unprecedented rainfall.

The rivers burst their banks, leaving large areas underwater and cutting off the town entirely.

Scott Baddeley was returning home to Hereford from a holiday in Brean Sands with his two young sons Alex and Elliott.

"When the rain came down, the traffic was horrendous - gridlock. I found myself trying to cross the Mythe Bridge in Tewkesbury at about 4 o'clock on Friday, and there was just no way it was going to happen. I parked up, and phoned around for a hotel where we stayed for the first night.

"The hotels were all very expensive though, so I decided we'd have to sleep in the car the next night. The town was cut off, so we couldn't get home. When we got back to the car, I noticed that I'd parked right outside The Salvation Army. They invited us in, and have taken care of us ever since."

The Salvation Army's hall in Tewkesbury has been open 24 hours a day since the flooding hit. It has become a focal point in the community, offering food, drinks, a place to sit down and sleep, and crucially, a place to share experiences.

"Actually, it's been great here," said Mr Baddeley. "We've been given sleeping bags and all our meals - it's been a bit of a party! My boys have both enjoyed being able to play games and table tennis - the older one is treating it as a big adventure, but the younger one is missing his cat.

"Hats off to the Salvation Army team here, they've been great. They're planning to help us to leave the town later on today, having organised a convoy. They've really put themselves out and we couldn't have done it without them."

Hetty Pople was travelling with her retired husband John from a hospital appointment in Worcester back to their home in Upton-on-Severn, a journey which usually takes no more than half an hour.

"We left the infirmary at 2 o'clock, but it was raining heavily. Tributaries that we barely notice had become torrents - it was extremely frightening. The roads we usually use had been flooded, or were impassable because of abandoned vehicles. We tried route after route, and couldn't make any progress at all. We finally arrived in Tewkesbury at 10 o'clock that evening and stayed overnight with a friend," she said.

"On Saturday, the waters were rising around our friend's property - and we were rescued by The Salvation Army who took us to their hall. We've been rooted here since then, although we have been able to get out for some fresh air and to stretch our legs.

"The Salvation Army people have been brilliant, and have given us a comfortable place to sleep with warm duvets. They've also provided all our meals, and endless - lovely - cups of tea and coffee!

"In fact, they've been able to organise everything we've needed - from toothbrushes to clean underwear. They've arranged for our laundry to be done, and for our pills to be brought over from a nearby surgery. We were also able to use their phone to contact our neighbours - fortunately our home is unaffected by the floodwaters.

"The atmosphere has been good too - we're all on first name terms and have got on with each other so well. We've had some lovely, friendly conversations with the staff and other 'refugees', and the youngsters have really enjoyed the billiards and ping-pong.

"I can't express enough how well everyone has worked together - The Salvation Army's response has been above and beyond the call of duty."





[Re-printed in Christian Today with the kind permission of The Salvation Army]