IN SCOTLAND, people are used to the rain. The first major recorded flood occurred at Dollar in September 1785 when the bridge at the Rack Mill over the Devon was swamped.

Due to the height and the force of the water, the bridge collapsed and was washed away.

Corn crops were destroyed and there was a lot of damage in the surrounding area.

On 10th October 1845 the River Black Devon was the scene of a tragedy when a person was drowned due to the high water.

Four years later Alloa Harbour was flooded due to a tidal event and on 25th January 1890 it was completely submerged by the highest tide in 17 years.

The worst flood ever recorded happened in late August 1877 when the Hillfoots was hit by heavy summer rain. On the 28th Tillicoultry burn burst its banks, causing the deaths of two people.

Many homes and businesses were damaged, and it took weeks for repairs to be carried out and for the town to return to normal.

Alva and Dollar too suffered, with houses in the Burnside in Dollar badly damaged and bridges in the glen were swept downstream.

An account by an eyewitness in the village claimed the burn was more like a river and he heard a low rumbling sound as trees and boulders were tossed about in the water. In Alloa the railway station and the Alloa Brewery were submerged in several feet of water.

Another flood hit on 2nd August 1883 affecting Tillicoultry once more but less severely than the 1877 one as the townsfolk were better prepared.

The burn had been deepened, but it still overflowed, and the High Street was swamped under 3 feet of water. Stones and gravel had been carried down and deposited in the High Street and Lower Mill Street.

Three or four streams of water were seen pouring from the top of the hills where no streams had been established before.

Alva was badly affected this time with the stone walls of the burn being washed away by the torrent with the lower houses of Green Square being submerged in four feet of water.

Businesses were swamped with water rushing through Mr Perry’s bakery, destroying it, and Mr Drysdale’s stationery and book shop being amongst the worst affected.

A great deal of damage was done to Alva Glen and the dam-head became filled with debris.

A gentleman travelling from Alloa to Alva saw the hills were white with foam and when he arrived in the village, it was under four feet of water.

CLACKMANNANSHIRE has suffered numerous floods in its low-lying areas especially those nearest the River Devon.

The Fairy Burn Culvert in Alloa could not cope with the amount of rainfall in December 1907 and on the 14th this resulted in the gas supply being cut to the town.

In Tullibody roads and paths were under almost three feet of water as were houses which were badly damaged.

In December 1921 coastal flooding saw Tullibody Island completely submerged and damage was done to the shipyards with timber on the quay washed away. Local fields were also submerged.

At the end of 1984, flooding was caused in the Cleuch Drive area of Alva thanks to the combination of the Carnaughton Burn being blocked and torrential rain. Sewers became backed up and numerous houses were affected.

On 9th August 2004 Menstrie Burn burst its banks causing damage to between 30 and 40 properties in the village. The problem was made worse by tree debris and the failure of the metal bridge.

Two years later in December 2006 the River Forth flooded with the result that vast areas of the carse were submerged, and a number of properties damaged.

On Burns Night 2008 the River Devon burst its banks in Tillicoultry causing severe flooding at Ellistoun Drive and the surrounding roads, causing damage to 15 properties.

Four businesses were also badly affected, including Sterling Warehouse. Over three days previously the total recorded rainfall in Tillicoultry was 182mm and when the Devon burst its banks, the water had nowhere to go as the ground was saturated.

In 2009, Menstrie was affected by flooding once more. Due to Menstrie Burn bursting its banks, several homes on Ochil Road had to be evacuated.

By 20th January 2011, all routes into and out of Tillicoultry were cut off as the Devon once again burst its banks.

During the summer of 2012 Dollar was badly affected when several streets including Tarmangie Drive and Whitewisp Gardens were affected by surface water.

In Menstrie, Menstrie House care home was forced to evacuate its clients as the burn once more wreaked havoc on the village. On 18th July Gartmorn Road in Sauchie was closed due to heavy rainfall

As a result of these flood events, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) produced reports on these areas with a view to minimise the damage in future by implementing flood prevention schemes in the most vulnerable areas.

The county received £85,000 of government funding to help tackle the issue in July 2016.