Heavy Floods hit East and Central Cork
By News Editor Cormac McCarthy
Following an Orange weather warning for heavy rain for the south west coast of Ireland, Cork experienced one of the worst spells of flooding that it has experienced since the floods of 2009 thanks to Storm Babet.
A months worth of rain was dropped in the space of less than 24 hours which has lead to the Owenacurra river in Midleton, the Twopot river in Curraheen and the River Kiltha in Castlemarytr, all bursting their banks causing widespread flooding into the surrounding areas.
Due to an over-load, Uisce Eireann was forced to close the Mitchelstown Water Treatment Centre and the Midleton Water Treatment Centre. Following this, there were boil water notices issued to the areas being served by the Whitegate Regional Public Water Supply Treatment Centre.
Midleton and its surrounding areas has experienced perhaps the worst of the onslaught with hundreds of cars being abandoned in the town centre due to damage and more being completely submerged in the water. Many patients in the Midleton Community Hospital had to be safely relocated to other areas within the facility after the areas of the campus experienced water damage.
Many local businesses in the area have felt the full effect of the flooding as many low lying shops have incurred water damage to their foundations and stock. The army and civil defence forces have been deployed to their area to assist with local residents.
Roads in many areas were completely blocked leaving many residents unable to access their homes. Supervalu Midleton had to announce the closure of its store after severe damage to its produce and will remain closed until at least Wednesday 25.
The low lying areas of the Lee River also experienced water coming over its banks with the Lee road as far back as Ballincollig being closed until the morning of Thursday 19.
Other rural areas affected include Castlemartyr, Ballyvolane and Carrigtwohill which were all impassable up until the early hours of October 19. Glanmire also experienced severe flooding with the Sarfields GAA club issuing a statement that serious damage has occurred to its grounds which will take months to repair.
Council flood crews and civil defence forces have also been deployed in Blackpool village centre after homes and business were flooded and many inaccessible due to road closures.
In an interview with RedFM on Wednesday afternoon, City Council Engineer David Joyce indicated that the full impact of the flooding was not expected and they were not prepared for the sheer impact of the floods.
The total cost of the damage has yet to be determined but current estimates are in excess of tens of millions as hundreds of homes in Cork county have been damaged.
Met Eireann have also continued the rain warning for Cork up until 11pm with a Yellow warning in place for all of East and Central Cork.
