Residents of a high-rise in the city are dealing with the aftermath of record flooding. Their disaster hit on July 18 and rendered their homes unlivable for the foreseeable future. Among those impacted is 31-year-old midwife Mutale Daka, whose life was upended as floodwaters forced her from her home. As the council announced that the building would remain closed for an additional three months, residents expressed frustration and fear regarding their uncertain living conditions.
This was the same day that Daka and her 10-year-old son exited the lift. The moment they stepped off the plane, they were immediately met with a devastating image. “My son feared he was going to die when we walked out of the tower block lift into floodwater,” she recounted, highlighting the traumatic experience they endured. Climate change intensified the flooding that displaced them and caused severe complications. Daka felt overwhelmed with her son’s secondary school application as she was unable to submit a permanent address, given their continued state of housing instability.
As of November 14, the council has issued an eviction notice for an entire demolition of the tower block. Residents are in a rush to get their stuff out and find a place for their animals before the last shutdown. As for most, like Daka, who depend on TPS, they’re left to wonder their next steps. It’s scary, no one knows what is going on,” Daka told Fortune, echoing the fear that pervades her community.
Residents were invited to attend by mail, though all residents received a letter from the Town announcing the recent developments in the flood mitigation efforts. One unnamed resident expressed disappointment with the council’s poor communication prior to this announcement. “I had not been informed previously about the extent of the flooding or what would happen next,” they stated, underscoring a growing sense of disconnection between the local authorities and those affected by the disaster.
The resulting, almost-complete flooding has majorly affected the health and well-being of those who live within the tower block residency. Thousands have lost not just their homes, but their sense of safety and security. Daka’s plea encapsulates the sentiment echoed by others as she expressed her resolve to protect her son from further distress: “I don’t want to put my son in that position ever again.”
