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"Meanwhile, an annual motorcyclists' charity event may have to move from the grounds of a Ryedale stately home because of flooding fears.
Bikers had a miraculous escape from fast-flowing waters on Sunday night at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, when the River Rye burst its banks.
About 60 motorcycle enthusiasts who had volunteered to help organise the Farmyard Party event to raise cash for the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) had a lucky escape.
The team had stayed behind to tidy up the site after about 8,000 motorcyclist enthusiasts met up for an event of live music, barbecues and socialising.
The campsite close to the River Rye was quickly swamped by the raging torrent and at least four stranded people were winched to safety by an RAF Sea King helicopter.
Trevor Baird, MAG public affairs director, said: "We got back the next morning and the water had receded back into the small bubbling brook that usually flows there."
He said tents, motorcycles, caravans, mobile bars and biker's possessions were littered across the site.
"It was a definite shock. I think of the 19-year history of the Farmyard Party, for ten years it's been at Duncombe Park, and the day after it's always been returned to a green field site.
"It was a chance in a million. Lord Feversham told us that the only time he could remember it flooding that much was 50 years ago."
Fire chief Tony Dyer said if the deluge had happened there a day earlier he was almost certain lives would have been lost.
Mr Baird said: "Because the event's growing so big, there's no way we can take that risk. I think the general opinion is that we won't be using the site again. We'd definitely like to stay at Duncombe Park, it's been the event's home for ten years, but I don't know whether there's another site suitable."
Duncombe Park, built in 1713, is the home of Lord and Lady Feversham. It was closed for a day after the disaster.
Liz Williams, house manager, said: "We will be going ahead with the British Road Racing Championships this weekend. We are back open for business. The only thing that is closed is the river walk, which is where the flooding happened."
She said that area had to remain closed for health and safety reasons as there was still a lot of debris left by the flood, including portable toilets and sewage, still littering the site.
"We've had no discussions with the MAG yet. We normally have a debrief at a later stage after an event like this. We have to sort out the aftermath of this first."
Lord and Lady Feversham opened up their home and its kitchen in the early hours of Monday for the bikers and their rescuers. Lady Feversham made trays of tea and coffee for people and then cooked supper for the RAF Sea King pilots at about 3am. Biker Tracey Elvin, who travelled from Ohio, USA, for the Farmyard Party, said: "It was just unbelievable. I've never met an aristocrat before and they were fantastic - so kind and hospitable."
