Flood response in Pontypridd: reporting on Storm Bert’s impact

Reporting on the effects of Storm Bert across Wales gave me the opportunity to look closely at how a community responds to significant disruption. When the flood alerts expanded to cover dozens of areas, Pontypridd became one of several towns where the impact was immediately visible. Water levels rose quickly and affected homes, streets and familiar public spaces within a matter of hours.

I spoke to residents dealing with a range of practical challenge, from a woman who struggled to leave her ground floor as water entered her home, to others using bins and buckets to manage the flooding inside their properties. The damage to the Pontypridd Lido and surrounding areas also showed how widely the effects were felt.

In my coverage, I focused on documenting these events clearly and accurately, noting both the extent of the flooding and the responses from those affected. The situation highlighted ongoing issues around local resilience and infrastructure, but it also shone a light on how people work together during periods of disruption like this: