31 December 2015, 12 noon
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 Cork region experienced less severe weather overnight in the aftermath of Storm Frank.
The Lee Catchment has suffered substantial and persistent rainfall over the past number of weeks.and the inflows of waters to Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra Dams remain high. As a result, 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.
The forecast is for further poor weather over the coming days. 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 advising 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 likelihood that some roads will suffer from localised flooding.
At this time, flooding is not anticipated for Cork City Centre and business is functioning normally.
The Cork Flood Assessment Team will keep matters under review over the coming days, and will be liaising closely with the ESB as well as An Garda Síochána, Cork County Council, Met Éireann and the Emergency Services.
