Building an extra floor has provided refuge for a Yalding couple whose home was devastated by flooding in 2013.

June Chapman and husband Tim spent more than £200,000 preparing their home after they were forced out for 15 months when the River Beult surged through their property.

June, 57, said: “It rained and rained and rained and it flooded the whole bottom of our house, which at the time was only two floors.”

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The new floor added to the building has allowed the couple to evacuate the bottom floor of their house in preparation for further flood risks announced this week.

She added: “I would’ve been in constant anxiety the water will come in, at least this time we can stay, even though it will be awful it won’t be as bad.”

VIDEO: Mr and Mrs Chapman spent more than £200,000 preparing their home for flooding.

The downstairs plumbing is completely sealed off and half a floor has been added to the garage to accommodate a generator.

The flooring is now concrete to ensure water won’t leak in and rise up through the floorboards.

The Chapmans still use the bottom floor on occasion, but have moved their kitchen upstairs to avoid the cost of replacing it again, should the worst happen.

The couple first moved into the house on the riverbank in 2006.

They were told the skirt, which is a protective barrier around the house, would help to prevent flooding.

But there is the chance that water could spill in over the top.

Mr Chapman, 59, said: “We get floods most years and the skirt does well but if it comes above a metre around the house then we’re in trouble.”

Mrs Chapman admitted she will be pretty depressed if flooding ruins their house again: “The cost of replacing a kitchen and a living room and a bedroom that was down here runs into £50,000 and you can’t expect insurance to pay out… it just doesn’t work like that.

“If we can do it with minimal damage then we can get insurance and we can live here almost stress free.”

Other parts of west Kent also remain on flood alert after several days of rain.

A yellow alert is in place until 6am tomorrow, with the Met Office warning up to 10mm of rain could fall in just one hour.

When asked if they would consider leaving the area they replied: “Whilst you’re standing in the mud when the rain’s coming down it’s not so lovely but in the summer it’s the loveliest village.

“The community is wonderful…so we’re all still here.”