Utter destruction in Oaklands

A family home in Oaklands has been left with an estimated damage of about R400 000 following severe floods in Johannesburg that left many displaced in parts of the City.
Duncan and Ashley Barker who have been living in the area for almost two years said they were grateful that none of their family members were hurt during the flooding but it was sad to have some of their precious valuables destroyed. According to Duncan, the real damage came from the neighbour’s wall.

“The water moved the back fence about four to five metres, then the floods at high speed rushed into the property,” explained Duncan.
“Before the wall fell, it was just water coming through; I didn’t realise that there would be maximum damage.”
The water managed to rise and covered the bottom part of their home completely causing damage to the house and destroying furniture.
Duncan said he was able to move one of the family cars when the water started gushing in but unfortunately their second car was not so lucky. “Fortunately, I was able to move the big car but my other car got stuck and it has been towed away. It will probably be a write-off.”

For Ashley, the floods were most devastating because she had been planning to open a play school for children between the ages of two to four, but Mother Nature would not have it. “We are home-schooling now and I thought that since we had so many toys we could invite other kids to play, but now to redo it all… What if it floods again?” she asked.
The mother of two said she had planned on having an open day in two weeks’ time but it was now going to be impossible due to the extent of the damage in the playroom. “There is no way that we can do it now,” said a disappointed Ashley.
“I’m employed full time and it took a lot of time over the weekends to source all the necessities for the playroom, buying it, putting it together and making it all beautiful.”
She added that the experience was depressing, especially because when the flooding happened, the family was on the second floor and watched it all happen.
“We now have an inkling of how those poor people felt during hurricane Katrina.”
Duncan said it was sad but possessions could be replaced. He added that the rooms that were completely destroyed included a man cave, laundry room and the playroom with all their contents.
“Some of the things have no use anymore but some will probably be okay,” said Duncan.
“Old family books, first edition bibles and everything that my family and my mother left me before she passed, it was all in the downstairs room. That’s my biggest sadness with this whole thing.”