Glen Road residents are now coming to terms with the devastating impact of the flooding.

Residents expressed their frustration and sadness yesterday (Wednesday) while trudging through the muddy aftermath of the heavy flooding that had made its way into their living rooms, kitchens and gardens.

Tracey Young and her family live at Hollywood Cottage which was built in 1844.

It’s up for sale but she now fears it will be difficult to sell.

’It’s devastating,’ she told the Manx Independent in her spoiled front garden.

’We put a lot of heart and money into making this place into a home, but it will be nice again. As far as selling our house, I don’t know what to do.’

Showing the damage inside, she points to floor boards that have come up, water marks on the walls and furniture. It’s throughout her ground floor. Luckily full compensation from their insurance company will be paid out.

’Right now it’s about having a big clean-up. It would be nice to think it will be all sorted before Christmas,’ she said.

Tracey was warned about the high water by her son in the morning and later her husband, who told her to move the cars to the nearby football pitch.

She then helplessly watched the water ’suddenly creep’ up and into her house.

’I wouldn’t say "a tsunami" coming down the street, but you know what I mean,’ she said. ’It just happened so fast. I’ve never witnessed anything like it!’

Beryl Ackerley watched the scene of the flood while trapped upstairs in her Glen Road home.

Her three cars have now been written off.

Two were parked in the front garden with the powerful surges having lifted and moved the cars up. The other was parked in front of the house and was swept down the street before a digger moved it to break another hole in the wall to divert the heavy water back into the river.

Despite her flooring coming up, doors being broken, furniture and other items being ruined, she is positive.

’It was nowhere as severe as I imagined it to be. There was nothing downstairs that was precious or of sentimental value,’ she said.

’There’s not much point in being upset, you cannot do anything at all about it. You just had to sit upstairs and go with the flow.’

Julie Pinson, who is a Garff commissioner and owns the Laxey Beach Cafe, was housesitting for a friend who lives on Glen Park.

She put flood prevention into place just in the nick of time using sandbags from her shop after trying to get some from the depot but finding it was closed.

’My friend is away having cancer treatment and so I was watching the house for him. We put out sandbags and rolled up carpets to keep the water out. It’s nothing as bad as everybody else,’ she said.

She echoes the frustrations of other Laxey residents.

’My main anger is the lack of agencies working together and applying common sense. The fact that there has been this campaign for beach and river management, which has been ongoing for three years, and it’s been dismissed. We’re not being listened to,’ she said.

All three have been overwhelmed by the support of the emergency services and the community of Laxey and offers of accommodation, clothes, food and cups of tea.

’The community has been fantastic and have come out saying: "If you need help, we will help!",’ said Tracey.