Authorities still on alert as floods abate in many areas

Severe flooding has abated in many areas throughout the State, but the authorities are still on high alert to monitor the potential…

Severe flooding has abated in many areas throughout the State, but the authorities are still on high alert to monitor the potential effects of rainfall and tides in the coming days, according to the emergency body coordinating the situation.

Chairman of the National Emergency Response Coordination Committee (NERCC), Sean Hogan, said today that about 1,500 people had been forced to leave between 500 and 600 homes due to flooding.

The exact figure was difficult to establish, however, as some people had 'self-evacuated' and were not being dealt with through the local authorities' systems.

Up to 6,000 personnel dealing with the flooding emergency at its peak last week, Mr Hogan said at a media briefing in Dublin this evening.

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“There was heavier than anticipated rain on Saturday night and into Sunday morning from the edge of a weather system located to the east of Ireland. Between 25 and 35mm of rain fell in some areas of Wicklow, Kildare, Dublin and Meath,” he said.

This had caused some localised spot-flooding around Kildare and Dublin and flooding on the Liffey. However, there was fairer weekend weather in the western half of the country, which has brought some easing of the flood waters in those areas.

“The impact of this level of rainfall, which is by no means exceptional underlines much of the problems we have been talking about where river catchments are at saturation levels.”

Mr Hogan said the flooding on the Liffey had peaked and was abating slowly.

Levels on the Poulaphouca dam – one of three operated by the ESB on the Liffey – remained high today and water was being discharged in a “controlled and gradual way”.

“That will continue throughout today. This level of discharge should minimise the amount of flooding downstream in areas already affected by tributaries and other flood sources on the Liffey catchment. The ESB is working closely with the local authorities and emergency services and is monitoring the situation out there,” Mr Hogan said.

The ESB said that in each flood situation, it was “still advising constant vigilance”. “The situation is being closely monitored and ESB continues to work with the inter-agency group which includes the local councils, HSE and the emergency services.”

Kildare County Council reported that the situation had improved “greatly” overnight, with many of the localised floods now relieved, and with water levels reducing in the middle Liffey and its tributaries.

Celbridge, Leixlip, Sallins and Johnstown were still the worst affected towns.

Kildare County Council was receiving calls at the rate of about 600 an hour at one stage on Sunday, with about 4,000 calls in total received over a two-day period.

Mr Hogan said council staff were working on the ground from 7am on Sunday morning. There were about 100 local authority staff active in the flood management effort, along with 70 fire service personnel, gardaí and 100 Civil Defence staff.

About 11 families were evacuated from apartments at Waterways estate in Sallins. However, council staff have not yet been able to assess the situation there as the estate is privately owned and is not under the management of the council.

In the Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council areas, the worst affected areas were Lucan, Chapelizod and the Strawberry Beds.

In Cork, most homes that have been without water in recent days due to the flooding should have it restored by today. It is anticipated that the boil notice in Cork city may be lifted tomorrow.

Mr Hogan said that in the Clare County Council area, the situation had now stabilised although some areas were still flooded.

Authorities in Limerick are on alert due to expected rainfall and spring tides tomorrow.

Mr Hogan said the Office of Public Works had completed an embankment in the Shannon Banks area, in preparation for those tides.

The high tides were not expected to cause tidal flooding in Limerick city, but they could affect the discharge from the river. The impact would be dependent on wind strength and direction, as well as atmosphere pressure.

In Galway, there is still “ongoing concern” in the Clonfert and in the south Galway area and the local authorities continue to work with the communities there, Mr Hogan said.

A clean-up operation started in Ballinasloe today.

“In Westmeath, it is anticipated the water will take some weeks to recede. The local authorities continue to monitor the situation.”

Meanwhile, insurance firm Hibernian Aviva estimated the insurance cost of flooding damage to homes and businesses around the country may now exceed €250 million.

The company said the number of claims calls to its own offices had started to peak, reaching over 4,500 at the end of last week.

“Flooding in Ireland is a significant concern and the cost of the most recent significant flood event (August 2008) to the insurance industry was estimated at €100 million,” it said.

Managing director of Hibernian Aviva General Insurance Michael Murphy said: “In the space of just over one week Ireland has experienced an unprecedented weather and flooding event.

“The implications for householders, businesses and motorists across the country cannot be underestimated. And as the threat of floods in some areas continues, the issue facing the country now is responding to the flooding aftermath from a public health, safety and logistical perspective. When those matters have been dealt with, the time will then be right to analyse what happened and develop an appropriate plan to deal with this issue in the future. Our focus now is on looking out for our customers at this difficult time.”