Homes evacuated amid heavy rainfall

Nov 19 2012

Around 100 homes have been affected by flooding in a Scottish village after a night of heavy rain which has also disrupted transport links across the country.

Residents in Comrie, Perthshire, were evacuated from their homes when the Water of Ruchill burst its banks near Dalginross just before 8am on Monday morning.

Tayside Fire and Rescue Service said about 70 firefighters and 10 appliances were at the scene, including water rescue teams.

The flooding has extended into large parts of Dalginross, Camp Road, Bank Road, Tay Avenue, Glebe Road and Duke Road, said the fire service. Roads around Dalginross have been closed by police and a cordon put up.

An emergency rest centre has been set up by Perth and Kinross Council at Strathearn Community Campus leisure centre in nearby Crieff, where those who cannot return to their homes are being assisted.

Another centre is also open at Comrie Community Centre - The White Church, where Red Cross teams are caring for people.

A Red Cross spokesman said the volunteers, who are based in Dundee, have helped more than 20 people who were evacuated from their properties, including a number of elderly people from two care homes.

Other volunteers have been standing by in a specially-equipped Red Cross Fire and Emergency Services Support (FESS) vehicle, which is an adapted mobile home where people can be given shelter, first aid, emotional support and dry clothing.

Robert Colburn, Red Cross senior service manager for east Scotland, said: "Our FESS team were called in by Tayside Fire and Rescue at about 11.15am. Just 20 minutes later, we were asked to send in emergency response volunteers by the Scottish Ambulance Service."

Properties were also flooded in Dunblane, Aberfoyle and Callander, a spokesman for Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service said. The main street in Aberfoyle was closed in both directions, police said.