HUNDREDS of households across the Braintree district face months of repair work after a thunderstorm and "freak" flooding on Saturday.
An off-duty PCSO saved a family from 3ft of water, lightning wiped out an entire road's electricity and Witham residents were forced to pump water from their homes during the town's "worst flooding ever".
Firefighters responded to 20 incidents and received 80 calls from homes in Hawthorne Rise, Powers Hall End and Lime Close in Witham.
The fire service also inspected damage at Rivenhall Hotel after an internal ceiling collapsed, rescued a trapped motorist in flood water under the A12 flyover in Rivenhall End, and rushed to an unoccupied former St Michael's Hospital flat struck by lightning.
The district council meanwhile received 32 calls to repair overflowing drains.
Amid the anger and frustration in Colne Chase, off Spa Road near Asda in Witham, where a river could be seen cascading into a row of around 50 houses, residents claimed the chaos "could have been avoided".
Graham O'Brien, who was mopping up water in the road from 7am, estimates his family lost at least £6,000 in carpet, flooring, tiling, furniture and electrical goods.
"It was just coming in so quick, there was nothing you could do," said the 32-year-old.
"It was terrible. All the kids were upstairs crying because they saw the water coming in. We were in wellies trying to get it out.
"It's horrible watching the water coming into the house and watching all your stuff float out."
Mr O'Brien blamed Braintree District Council for failing to unblock a ditch about 30 metres away, which overflowed.
He and neighbours also accused Greenfields Community Housing of taking at least 12 hours to deliver sandbags.
"I am fuming because it could have been avoided," he said.
"The ditch, which is usually only one or two inches deep, came up halfway to our homes last year.
"The council saw it and said the pipe in the ditch needed clearing up, and that they would access it, but nothing has been done about it."
Neighbour Jackie O'Shea, 45, said she awoke to find rainwater 2ft high and flowing ever closer to her house. She said it took three hours to wash out three inches of flood water from inside.
"It was just unbelievable," said Miss O'Shea, who said she did not receive her sandbags until the evening.
"I've lived here in this house for over ten years and in three different locations in Colne Chase for 40 years and it has never come up that high."
Housing firm Greenfields, responsible for more than 8,000 properties in the district, also delivered sandbags to 18 homes.
"We had a number of calls and were delivering all day. All we can do is prioritise those most in need," said Scott Bridge, head of maintenance.
"It was the worst flooding I have ever seen in the Essex area. It happened so fast, and was so localised, and I think that's what caught people unaware."
He added: "Residents have been really understanding and what we have had to do is delay routine work on Monday and Tuesday to see to those residents most in need."
When the Chronicle visited Colne Chase on Tuesday a district council contractor inspecting the ditch said: "It was a freak incident. Nothing could have been done to prevent it."
Brentwood PCSO and Witham resident Matthew Grimwood was helping residents escape flooded homes, which included rescuing a young family from a house 3ft under water.
"It's the worst flooding I've ever seen in Witham," said Mr Grimwood.
The town library, on Newland Street, also suffered flood damage and has been forced to close until September 29.
While Witham was predominantly affected by excess rainwater, Braintree also suffered from lightning directly overhead.
Internal pipework burst in three flats in Perryfields, flooding homes after lightning struck a roof antenna.
The same strike left what is thought to be the entire road without telephone lines and internet.
Newlyweds Joseph and Deborah Bell called firefighters to cut off the supply as water gushed from the pipework below their sink.
They stacked all their furniture in their living room – just a fortnight after their honeymoon suite was flooded in Jamaica.
"We won't forget the first two weeks of our marriage," said 28-year-old Joe, who estimates at least £5,000 in damage has been caused to their property.
