BUSINESSES in Immingham are continuing to count the cost of the flood ten days on from the tidal surge.
The loss of power, water damage and disruption to oil and coal supply is estimated to have cost tens of millions of pounds – and local MP Martin Vickers has called for measures to be undertaken to prevent a repeat of the surge – the worst in 60 years.
The Environment Agency has warned of high tides in the first week of the New Year, similar to those of December 5.
Those tides and the tidal surge are estimated to have cost millions of pounds worth of damage in lost business, particularly at Immingham docks where coal and fuel supplies were disrupted.
The docklands were without power for more than three days and the port's busy Seafarers' Mission has been forced to close after the flood wrecked the centre.
It has had to be gutted of all fixtures and fittings because of the contamination from flood water, and could be closed for several weeks as volunteers battle to clear the building of mud.
They have filled seven two-tonne skips in a desperate bid to bring it back into use.
Along with neighbouring dock businesses, the mission's leaders are counting the cost of the surge.
It claimed the lives of 15 fish, which were lovingly looked after by volunteers in an indoor pond and provided a peaceful sanctuary for visitors.
They were washed away along with most of the mission shop and bar.
It has been estimated the overall cost of the flood damage at the docks was £40 million.
Today, John Fitzgerald, Association British Ports' port director Humber, said: "There has been a tremendous amount of hard work put into the last seven days, restoring the services at the port, and every day more and more facilities are brought back into operation.
"The assessment of the damage and the commissioning of repairs is an ongoing process for ABP and our customers alike."
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers met Environment Secretary Owen Patterson in Immingham on the Saturday after the flood to get a full report on the impact to coal and oil supplies.
Mr Vickers said: "Obviously there is a big cost when power supplies are affected." He added: "There will be meetings between Government and port operators to make sure any problems that are identified are overcome."
The MP met with ministers to see what can be done to prevent a repeat of the flooding at Barrow Haven, where up to 30 homes were flooded.
Seafarers' Mission centre manager Ros Dezelsky said: "We would still be filled with mud if it was not for ABP staff. They have been brilliant."
Father Colum Kelly said volunteers are determined to open the mission as soon as possible.
In the meantime they are taking mobile internet communications to crews aboard ships so they can make contact with their homes.
Father Kelly: "For many of them this is the last port they will be at over Christmas before they set sail, and we want to give them the chance to send e-mails, phone or Skype with their family."
The mission's transit van, which carries crew members to and from the mission to their ships, was also wrecked in the flood.
He said: "It has been a disaster. We are going to have to rebuild from scratch. The computer room and library, the shop and bar are all wrecked."
The mission, which opened in 1963, looks after scores of seafarers every week.
