In the wake of Storm Henk's onslaught, which brought heavy rainfall and widespread flooding to Somerset, the government has announced a lifeline for affected residents and businesses.

The storm, which struck on Thursday, January 4, has left communities, including Shepton, grappling with the aftermath of floods.

To aid the recovery, the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated, offering financial assistance to those hit hardest by the storm. Somerset Council is facilitating the application process for grants aimed at covering damage costs and bolstering flood resilience.

Support measures include up to £500 for households rendered uninhabitable by flooding, 100% council tax and business rates relief for a minimum of three months, a Business Recovery Grant of up to £2,500 for small-to-medium-sized enterprises, and up to £5,000 for property owners to invest in future flood defences. Farmers facing uninsurable damage can seek grants of up to £25,000 for repairs and reinstatement.

Residents and businesses can apply via Somerset Council's portal available here Grants for Flood Recovery from Storm Henk (somerset.gov.uk)

Councillor Dixie Darch, Lead Member for Environment and Climate said: "We're really pleased the Government has recognised the challenges faced by communities following this latest flood event.

"The reality is that these kinds of events are going to become more frequent and supporting residents and businesses to build resilience is essential.

"We have already experienced several flooding events during 2023, but unfortunately the funding available only applies to this specific date. Hopefully going forward the Government will look at applying this kind of framework to future flood events."

The local area faced severe challenges as Storm Henk brought heavy rain and widespread flooding across various parts of the county. Emergency services, particularly fire crews, were called into action to respond to multiple incidents.

Upper Coxley, St Cuthbert Out, Shepton Mallet and Croscombe were particularly hard hit.