I think it`s rather old houses (large one`s at that) that tend to have basements in the UK (18th,19th Century).
So basements are not the norm.
Eagle,fingers crossed it doesn`t get any higher for you mate.
Tony, Good to hear your Grandmother`s safe & well in Tewkesbury.
As for your folks,I hope they are fine too & tomorrow`s weather doesn`t look too good at all,which means they`ll probably get caught out Fri-Sat with more floods
As for the upbeat nature,I found that too back when we suffered it. Helping some of the older folks move their stuff higher up & how upbeat they were considering.
It truely brought out a positive spirit in the community going through it (shame it takes something like that to do it mind).
Now we watch as the flooding seems to be heading east. At least folk are getting plenty of warning to prepare defences.
Jason