Main points
- Wexford County Council says the N80 leading in and out of Bunclody has reopened to all traffic after flooding caused by Storm Chandra while, in Kilkenny, the L1825 Ardaloo Road between Three Castles and Jenkinstown has also reopened
- Minister for Transport and Climate says storm mitigation measures “will never be completed” due to prevalence of storms
- Flooding risks will remain into Wednesday and Thursday, as rain continues to fall on already saturated ground
- Share your photos, short videos and stories from Storm Chandra HERE.
Met Éireann has issued another rain warning for several counties tomorrow.
Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford have a status yellow warning for further heavy rainy and showers falling on saturated ground, which, Met Éireann said, combined with high river levels, may cause the following:
• Localised flooding• River flooding• Difficult travel conditions
The warning is valid from midnight tonight until midnight Thursday.
Share your photos, short videos and stories from Storm Chandra
In Co Wicklow, the council is warning of several road closures and of road opening following the deluge of rain brought by Storm Chandra.
The R749 Quarry Street, Shillelagh will be closed until further notice, the junction of R761 and L5064, Tiglin is passable but motorists are advised to use alternative routes where possible.
Old Downs Road is passable, however, drivers are being encouraged to use alternative routes. R772 Old Dublin Road at Circle K, Arklow is now clear. R747 Vale Road, Arklow is also passable, however, other routes are advised.
R747 Woodenbridge to Aughrim, R752 Farrier’s Inn and R753 Ballinaclash to Aughrim are all passable - again using other routes are being encouraged.
The council is urging motorists to “drive carefully” as weather events and flooding have caused debris to be washed onto road surfaces and damage has been caused.
Enniscorthy business owners see “worst” flood in 25 years
Homes and business premises in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford are surveying the damage caused by flood waters of up to five feet, Tim O’Brien reports.
Much of the low-lying commercial centre along the Shannon and Abbey quays was inundated with water and mud, destroying furniture and stock estimated at tens of thousands of euro per premises.
Many of the business owners said they have been unable to get insurance since the previous flood around 2000.
Ralph Swaine who runs The Bus Stop Shop, a bakery, delicatessen grocery and coffee shop said the floods had broken a window after he had installed flood defences around his doors.
Standing in his food preparation area on Wednesday he surveyed fridges up ended, shelves of food and confectionary around the floor and mud rising to several foot inside drinks cabinets.
“It is the worst I have seen in 25 years. It is the third bid flood and we have no insurance, he said.
Across the river Greg Dydyonski and his wife Michaela inspected the remains of their European Food Shop where stock from aisles of shelving had been swept to the floor. Mr Dydyonski also said he had been unable to get flood insurance.
At Priory Court householder Tommy Bolger said he and his three children had to be evacuated by Slaney Search and rescue on Tuesday afternoon.
At the Temple Barber Zara Zhang said she was depressed. I am a singke mother and I have to work" she said. In her salon coaches were soaked with water while mud lay several inches deep on the floor. She said her washing machines and equipment had been submerged. It would, she said, take months to restore the premises.
Residents living in Cookstown Lane, just off Enniskerry Road in Kiltiernan, have been clearing out their homes on Wednesday morning, Sarah Burns reports.
The houses, which were built in recent years and offered to families on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown social housing list, suffered serious flooding due to Storm Chandra.
One young woman, who has three children, said they are staying in a hotel. With the help of a friend she was in the process of ripping up her floorboards that were destroyed by the water.
“I don’t even know where to start,” she said. “It’s the realisation now of how much damage, how much dirt there was flowing through the house. There was worms coming through in the water. It was disgusting.” The woman said she woke early on Tuesday morning and noticed water coming into the house and called Dublin Fire Brigade.
“The water just kept coming, it was scary and there was nothing we could do to stop it. I’m just like: where do I go from here? My kids are in the school up the road, I work, I just don’t know how long it’s going to take until we can get back in or where we’ll be long-term. I couldn’t even sleep last night thinking of it.”
Met Éireann needs to make ‘greater use’ of judgment call, Minister says
Minister for Housing James Browne said Met Éireann will be held accountable for its role in providing timely alerts about storms.
“I think we will be bringing Met Éireann in and say that there needs to be an understanding here that information is not to be guarded, information is to be put out there and we need to do a much better job of communication,” the Enniscorthy TD said on South East Radio.
“But also what we’ve asked Met Éireann to do as well is to look at how they bring these warnings, yellow, orange, red warnings. It’s based on a mathematical formula, whereas in other countries, they use the mathematical formula but then they also make a judgment call”.
There needs to be “a greater use of that judgment call”, he said.
He emphasised the growing unpredictability and severity of weather events and the need for extreme measures to protect communities.
While acknowledging that earlier warnings may not have prevented the flooding, he stressed the need for clearer and faster communications by Met Éireann.
More details released about emergency measures to help businesses impacted by flood damage
The Department of Enterprise has released some more details about the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme.
The Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, is seeking Government approval to open the scheme to small businesses and voluntary and sports organisations impacted.
The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme provides a contribution towards the costs of returning a business premises to its pre-flood condition.
This can include replacing flooring, fixtures and fittings, and damaged stock if relevant. The scheme is specifically targeted to help small businesses of up to 20 employees (or wholetime equivalents), and community, voluntary and sports organisations, and has two payment stages:
- The first stage will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of the damages incurred, with focus on getting funding to small businesses as quickly as possible.
- In the event that a premises has incurred significant damages above €5,000, businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations may apply for additional financial support. In this case, a Building Assessment will be organised through the Irish Red Cross. The total level of support available for both stages is capped at €20,000.
Waterford City and County Council is advising those venturing outdoors to practise caution.
Johnny Brunnock, trails officer with Waterford City and County Council, said although there is “an abundance of fantastic coastal, mountain and woodland trails throughout the city and county”, heavy and persistent rainfall have left the ground saturated which can cause significant hazards for walkers.
“Heavy rain can cause the ground to become boggy and liable to subsidence and landslips. The risk of accidents is also increased as steep ground becomes slippery, and loose rock and mud can be difficult and dangerous to encounter,” he said.
Brunnock advises that planning is crucial:
- Be particularly vigilant around coastal and upland cliffs, riverbanks, streams, woodlands (fallen trees), steep slopes etc.
- The ground is saturated and can be liable to subsidence and landslips.
- Heavy rain causes loose rocks, mud, and steep ground to become very slippery, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Always be prepared for your walk by planning ahead, know your route, let others know your planned route, have the required skills, be properly equipped and know the weather forecast – particularly any official weather warnings (yellow/orange/red).
“We would also reiterate the advice of the Irish Coast Guard to always Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry from coastal areas during severe weather, storms or high tides as breaking waves and overtopping can be extremely dangerous,” he added.
Flooding causes ‘significant mental health challenges’ to people whose home or business has been damaged
The All Ireland Science Media Centre, an independent science-related press office, provided expert comment on the impacts of the floods.
Dr Kristin Hadfield, associate professor at the School of Psychology in Trinity College Dublin (TCD), said there may be “significant mental health challenges, with the extent to which it leads to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder depending on the severity of flooding, displacement from home, level of property damage and how long daily life is disrupted.
“In the immediate aftermath, people often report sleep disruption, intrusive memories, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and acute stress,” Dr Hadfield said.
For some, distress persists for weeks or months, “particularly where flooding is repeated or where there is ongoing uncertainty about the extent to which their home or business is protected against future flooding”.
The burden is often compounded by practical stressors like clean-up and repairs, dealing with damp and mould, financial strain, and the time and paperwork involved in insurance and support schemes.
Rapid, co-ordinated support and accessible emergency payments can reduce helplessness and support recovery, Dr Hadfield said, adding: “Flood defences should be viewed as a public health measure: reducing repeated exposure and restoring a sense of safety is an effective way to prevent chronic distress and the development of post-flood mental health problems in communities at risk of flooding.”
Clean-up under way in the southeast of the country
Co Wexford’s Bunclody, closed off to traffic by gardaí, has now reopened as water has receded from the river Slaney, Sarah Slater reports.
Wexford County Council is advising that the N80 leading in and out of the town has reopened to all traffic. However, the council said “extreme caution” is advised across all routes as flooding persists across the county.
Water levels from the river Slaney in a flood-devastated Enniscorthy are receding allowing extensive clean-up operations to get under way.
In Kilkenny, the council has confirmed the L1825 Ardaloo Road between Three Castles and Jenkinstown has reopened after flooding.
Flood waters have receded in Thomastown and the village of Graiguenamanagh when the rivers Nore, Barrow and Duiske burst their banks.
The majority of flood waters have also dropped across Waterford city and county. However, Waterford City and Council is advising members of the public on the Ballyduff/Kilmeaden water supply scheme not to consume the water due to the adverse weather conditions.
The council said Uisce Éireann has issued a do-not-consume notice for all customers on that supply scheme.
The council warned that boiling the water is “not a suitable measure to make the water safer” to consume. “It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle-fed infants,” officials added.
Customers affected are being advised the water should not be used for drinking, drinks made with water, food preparation, washing or cooking of food, brushing teeth or making ice. Children under 12 months should not drink this water nor should it be used for making up infant formula for bottled-fed infants. An alternative source of water must be used.
The notice applies to all areas supplied by the Ballyduff/ Kilmeaden Public Water Supply including Lahardan, Kilmagemouge West and Hacketstown.
An alternative water supply is in place outside Moon Cafe, Kilmeaden Village Centre. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and to boil that water before consumption as a precautionary measure.
Our reporter Órla Ryan has written a full Q&A on the support available to households following the storm through the Emergency Response Payment. The Q&A addresses what the compensation covers, how to apply, income limits, and what support is available to businesses. Read it here.
Photos and videos of the clean-up from the storm are coming in from parts of the country, after the worst of the rain yesterday, including Co Louth, where fire and rescue service members are continuing to assist people in Dundalk due to ongoing flood risk.
Minister for Transport and Climate says storm mitigation measures ‘will never be completed’ due to prevalence of storms
Minister for Transport and Climate Darragh O’Brien has warned the work in relation to flood relief and storm mitigation measures “will never be completed”.
Mr O’Brien told RTÉ Radio’s Today with David McCullagh show that every country was dealing with issues around severe weather events.
“Our work will never be completed in this space. We’re going to have to continue to invest in adaptation-mitigation measures, look at how we can further improve our forecasting or warning systems as well.
“I think that the flood forecasting particularly around our rivers is something that does need to be deployed sooner. I have seen preliminary work on that over the last year or two ... It should be deployed sooner, much sooner rather than later and I wouldn’t accept that it would take a further 10 years.”
Storms were more prevalent, he added. Measures were being taken in relation to mitigation and a significant part of the roads budget related to adaptation measures.
When asked why gardaí were not on the scene to assist with traffic management during flooding on Tuesday, Mr O’Brien said that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) officials had been on hand on the M50 and the M11. The deployment of gardaí was a matter for An Garda Siochana, he said. He could not direct them.
There had been “a lot of learnings” from Storm Éowyn, he added.
“You have to learn and improve things for the next event and a lot of work has gone into adaptation and mitigation and will continue to, and will require further investment unquestionably.”
Flooding risks will remain into Wednesday and Thursday, as rain continues to fall on already saturated ground.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group is due to meet again on Wednesday as clean-up efforts continue.
Keith Leonard, national director of fire and emergency management, said local authorities are going to be “vigilant right out to the weekend” and “emergency services remain on standby”.
Speaking on Newstalk on Tuesday, Mr Leonard said: “We were in contact with all local authorities on Monday and Met Éireann had issued a high and elevated risk for flooding to all local authorities right across the east region.”
He said the level of rainfall in some areas such as south Dublin “caught us a little bit more by surprise; we just weren’t expecting those levels of rainfall that fell”.
Mr Leonard urged people to contact their local authorities, or check their social media pages, for the latest updates on road closures.
The Department of Social Protection has announced the Emergency Response Payment is now available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by Storm Chandra. Details are available by calling 0818-607080.
“That will provide a couple of levels and it’ll provide immediate needs payments where people just need to do things quickly and it will also provide for the replacement of white goods and, where people aren’t insured, it will provide for structural repair as well,” Mr Leonard said.
The Department of Enterprise has confirmed it will activate the Business and Community Flooding Support Scheme. Mr Leonard said affected businesses should contact their relevant local authority for more information about the scheme.
Several thousand premises were without electricity on Tuesday evening. ESB Networks said it was working to restore supply. Customers can visit powercheck.ie for the latest updates. Anyone who comes across fallen power lines is asked to report them to the ESB by calling 1800 372 999.
Met Éireann has said it will be cloudy and cool in many areas on Wednesday.
Scattered showers will move over Munster and south Leinster later this morning, becoming more prolonged across Munster later. Highest temperatures will range from 8 to 11 degrees.
No weather warnings are in place for the Republic at present, but a yellow warning for ice will remain in place for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry until 10am.
Keith Lambkin, the head of climate services at Met Éireann, said rainfall in Ireland has increased by 7 per cent because of climate change. He warned that as the planet warms, heavier rainfall can be expected.
With regard to Storm Chandra, he told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that it had been a question of not necessarily the amount of rain that fell but where it actually fell.
“At the moment Ireland are putting together a flood warning system – the Met Éireann rain warnings would be sent into that, they would feed into a wider system. That system itself then, based on the amount of rain that was expected and the known fact that it was saturated levels, the local authorities and so forth would have been warned of the likes of localised flooding and many acted on the basis of that.
“What other jurisdictions have is a more complicated, better observation system that then feeds higher-resolution models that then feed into a warning system.
“Ireland is currently in the process of putting that system in place, but only components of that are in there at the moment. That’s still in development.”
For the coming days, Mr Lambkin cautioned that conditions are already quite saturated so any additional rain is likely to cause complications. “The good news is we’re not necessarily expecting any more storms over the short term.” – Órla Ryan and Vivienne Clarke
