A REPORT by international consultants on last year's flooding of Cork city commissioned by a solicitor acting for residents and business people affected by the inundation is expected within three weeks, The Irish Timeshas learned.
Joe Noonan, who represents over 50 householders and business people whose homes and premises were flooded last November, yesterday confirmed he expected to obtain the report next month from an international firm of hydrological consultants.
Mr Noonan said the consultants have examined the climatic conditions in the run-up to the flood of November 19th, 2009, the topography of the Lee valley and the management of the flood by the ESB which operates dams at Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid.
He said the hydrological experts have also examined the warning system operated by the ESB, Cork City Council and Cork County Council, and how it failed to properly alert householders to the extent of the flood coming down the Lee valley and hitting the city.
Mr Noonan said he would examine the report with a senior counsel before advising his clients on the legal options open to them to try to gain compensation for the damaged caused to their homes and businesses by the flood.
He was speaking following a public meeting in Cork where homeowners and business people affected by the flood reiterated their call for a public inquiry into the flood and its handling by the ESB and the local authorities.
Residents’ spokesman Barry Keane said homeowners were apprehensive about the coming winter and were anxious to establish what exactly happened last November so steps could be taken to ensure there was no repeat.
He said a public inquiry was the only way of getting answers for residents as many people living in areas which were flooded could no longer get insurance for their homes and businesses. It should be possible to establish a two-week public inquiry.
Accountant Ciaran Baxter, who employs 14 people at Grenville Place, said he was very concerned about the coming winter.
“The whole area is exposed and if we get a combination of high tides and heavy rains there is a real risk of the area flooding again – I can’t get insurance for my business and I’ve told the city council that, but 12 months on we’re still waiting for the [quay] wall to be repaired. I suppose I’m relatively lucky, though, in that I can close the door here at six o’clock and go home, but people living in the area can’t do that if there’s a flood and a lot of them are elderly – nothing has been done to repair the quay walls since last year and it’s an absolute disgrace.”