"It was someone's fault and we need them to pay", angry residents of The Strand in Ryde have told the County Press, as they are left counting the cost of "nightmare" flooding which tore through their homes.
Carole Urquhart, of The Strand Residents Association, said it is the worst she has seen in the 23 years she and her husband have lived on the road.
That is despite the Environment Agency telling her in a letter that its £5 million flood defence scheme, installed at the nearby Simeon Rec in 2018, would reduce the risk of flooding to her home to "one in 100 years."
It comes amid huge questions over what Isle of Wight Council leader, Cllr Phil Jordan, called "failures" to put flood boards in, at the Rec.
The Environment Agency previously told the County Press it would review whether additional flood boards would have reduced the flooding at Monktonmead and whether it could have responded differently.
At the height of Wednesday's floods, Carole said 41 inches of water breached her property and she woke up to find water gushing out of her toilet "like a fountain".
"The garden started to fill and the water started going down to our semi-basement", she said.
"There was no stopping it. We couldn't go in and do anything. Even the floor was floating.
"It was chaos".
It took until Thursday afternoon to finally clear the property of water, Carole said.
She said their washing machine, freezer and cooker have been ruined and she estimates the value of the damage to be in the tens of thousands.
The group estimates more than 100 properties in the area were hit by the floods and it is asking affected residents to come together to help each other, and to hold those responsible, accountable.
Carole said when the floods hit there was no assistance from "anyone official" and she is angry the flood gate system at the Rec was not used properly.
She said: "We want everyone to keep all their pictures and we're putting together a timeline and we're looking for a solicitor.
"We need someone to pay basically. It was someone's fault. There are pictures of the Rec with only two barriers up.
"We want someone to admit it is their fault."
Jeremy Whitby-Smith, who lives next door and was also badly affected by the floods, said: "It's been a nightmare for everyone and continues to be a nightmare.
"We were told it would only flood one in 100 years. Well 100 years has come very quickly! "
Malcolm Watson, who also lives along The Strand, told the County Press: "Whoever formulated the preventative measures, or implemented them, has some serious questions to answer."
Ward councillor Karen Lucioni, who has since visited the area with MP Bob Seely, said: "I want to reassure residents and businesses that I will get answers to the questions they have asked and we will find what happened in due course."
The Environment Agency said it would review its response when "we are out of this incident".
"It will help us improve our response to flooding, and that of our partners, in the future", a spokesperson said.
For residents of The Strand, it is all hands on deck as they prepare for Storm Ciaran.
The group is holding a drop-in session for residents tomorrow (Wednesday) between 3pm and 7pm at the Simeon Arms.
Information can be sent to secretary@easterngardens.co.uk.
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