COMMUNITIES across East Yorkshire are spending the weekend mopping up after hundreds of homes and businesses suffered flood damage.
In scenes reminiscent of 2007, properties were swamped with flood water on Thursday night because of a huge tidal surge.
There had been fears of a repeat yesterday morning, but it passed without any further major flooding.
Now, the clean-up operation is under way as the full extent of the damage is assessed.
For many businesses, it could not have come at a worse time, with Christmas just a few weeks away.
Staff at the Country Park Inn on Hessle Foreshore should have been adding finishing touches to tables ahead of a busy night's dining yesterday.
Instead, mud, silt and leaves were being swept out, while the owners counted the cost, both in terms of physical damage and loss of custom.
"Every room is knackered," said Tom Medd, operations and sales manager.
"We were about fully booked as well over the Christmas period. We had BP's Christmas party and an 80th birthday party, to name but a few.
"There is mud, sludge and leaves in every room – the kitchen, in the fridge, toilets – everywhere."
Between 50 and 60 homes in Hessle were flooded, with most close to the pub, which commands scenic views out to the River Humber.
Usually, the vista is a major draw to this popular bar and restaurant.
But that same river – almost mirror-like in the bright winter sunshine yesterday – was the cause for the bar's pumps staying dry and the kitchen to remain closed.
"The water level was about a couple of feet," said Mr Medd. "One minute it was at the top of the iron railings, next it was up to the window.
"All floors, woodwork and plaster will need replacing. The electrics and phone keep going on and off.
"It will take a miracle if we are reopen before January."
Yet, amid the distressing, often chaotic, scenes caused by Thursday night's storms, which have left Christmas plans in tatters for many, are displays of community togetherness.
Julie Dyl tried in vain to fight back the flood water, which reached a few inches deep in her Rags restaurant business in Bridlington's South Pier.
Yesterday, despite suffering ground-floor flooding, the business was open, thanks to the efforts of her community.
"Staff, regulars and residents came armed with mops, buckets and brushes to help us out," she said.
"The response was overwhelming, it really was. At one point, we had about 30 people helping.
"A fitness group came to help us move the furniture and volunteers were helping lift the carpets out, with others helping to move food out of the freezers.
"It really was unbelievable. We have lost carpets, but it shouldn't impact the business.
"The kitchen is also upstairs, so wasn't affected."
It was a similar story in Paull, a small, close-knit coastal community badly hit by the flooding because of its exposed location.
Regulars of the Royal Oak spent yesterday helping landlady Laura Brown pump water out of the premises.
"Everyone has been really helpful," said Laura. "People have been coming in all day asking if there is anything they can do."
Laura chose to stay open during the height of Thursday night's storm.
"I was serving whiskey and bottled beer to people in their wellies," she said.
"Unfortunately, the compressor broke when the cellar was flooded, which meant the draught was off."
Up the road, workers at Dunston Shipbuilders continued to laugh and joke, despite the grim task of scraping up thick mud left by the receding tide.
General manager Keith Clark said the firm had lost expensive computing and welding equipment, as well as a supply of timber.
But he said his workforce had managed to save the Yorkshire Belle – the popular Bridlington day-trip cruiser.
"The priority on Thursday night was saving the Yorkshire Belle, which we managed to do," he said.
"It was in the dry dock, but water was coming up over the gate and there was a real danger, with the high tide, that it could have been bashed about."
In Hull, the Ice Arena is set to be closed for up to a week, while Nuffield Health gym will not reopen until at least Monday.
Mark Duckett, 50, who runs 13 restaurant on Hull Marina, has been hit by flooding twice now.
He formerly ran Portside Bistro in Prince's Dock Street, which was flooded when a faulty water pipe burst last December.
He said: "I feel like Noah – I can't believe it has happened again.
"Fortunately, this time we are on the first floor, but we lost electricity and had to close.
"I'm just grateful the gate at the Marina did its job – it held back the force of the sea."
The restaurant was expected to be reopened this weekend.
