2 January 2016, 11.30am
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Cork City Flood Assessment Team met again this morning to review the ongoing situation with regard to continuing poor weather and flood risk.
The latest weather system brought very heavy rainfall to the region over the past 24 hours. Cork City Fire Services and emergency crews responded to a number of flood related incidents in the City as well as surrounding areas. No serious flooding occurred in the City.
The ESB has advised that they will continue to discharge waters from Inniscarra Dam at the rate of 250 cumecs. This discharge level will be kept under continuous review and the ESB advises that the discharge rate may need to be increased further.
Carrigrohane Road and Lee Road will remain closed and are likely to continue to suffer from flooding for some days. Traffic diversions are in place.
Property owners are advised that there will be continuing difficulties in accessing their properties.
Lee Catchment has suffered substantial and persistent rainfall over the past number of weeks. With further rain forecast over the weekend, the City Council is advising that there will be an ongoing need to maintain high levels of preparedness for flooding in the Carrigrohane Road and Lee Road areas. The Council is continuing ising property owners in the area to remain in a state of readiness in the event of having to take measures to prevent damage to property.
The City Council is advising the public that there is a continuing risk that some roads will suffer from localised flooding. The City Fire Service is continuing to warn motorists about the dangers of driving through floods and standing waters (again over the past 24 hours, City Fire crews rescued a number of motorists who were trapped in their vehicles in flood waters) – refer to www.flooding.ie
The Cork Flood Assessment Team will keep matters under review over the coming days. The City Council is continuing to liaise closely with the ESB as well as An Garda Síochána, Cork County Council, Met Éireann and the Emergency Services.
