Abermain resident Michelle Beauchamp has experienced two floods in eight years, and is well-prepared for it to happen again.
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Her William Street home is still undergoing repairs, 12 months since the April 2015 superstorm.
The home sits adjacent to Swamp Creek, and was also inundated in the June 2007 storm.
Ms Beauchamp and her husband Russell are doing everything they can to minimise the impact if their home is flooded again.
They are having Hebel block walls and epoxy-spray flooring installed on the bottom level, along with a waterproof kitchen.
“If it floods again, we’ll just hose it out,” Ms Beauchamp said.
“We know it’s going to happen again, so we’ve got to plan for it.
“It’s taught me a lot about minimalising – I had a lot less stuff last year than I did in 2007.”
Ms Beauchamp said the family got a scare in January this year, when the creek quickly rose towards their property.
“Every time it pours rain it invokes that fear and anger all over again,” she said.
“We packed all of our tools in the van and were ready to go.”
Investigations are underway for flood mitigation works in Swamp Creek, which is a priority project of Cessnock City Council’s floodplain risk management plan.
See how Abermain was affected by the April 2015 superstorm in the gallery below.
