9% of Louth homes at risk of flooding
COUNTY Louth has been named as one of two counties in the country at the highest risk of flooding, it has been revealed in a new report by Gamma.
According to Gamma, the local intelligence solutions company, 9% of the housing stock in County Louth is in areas deemed to be a significant risk in the flood model.
This was just slightly lower than County Clare where the risk is 10%.
The two counties scored highest because they are at risk of both coastal and river flooding, bringing a larger amount of homes into threat.
The company used its environmental risk platform, Perilfinder, to rank the counties with the highest risk scores.
At the other end of the spectrum, Longford is the county in which you are least likely to be affected by flooding with only 1% of the housing stock at significant risk of flooding.
Cavan and Westmeath also have a relatively low percentage of residences in high flood risk zones, at approximately 1% and 2% respectively.
In Dublin, more than 12,347 residences would be under threat. Nationally, just under 60,000 residences are at significant risk from flooding. In terms of the number of residential buildings which would be at risk in flood conditions, the county with the highest number is Dublin with 12,347 residences at risk.
Cork comes in second with 6,722 abodes and then Clare with 5,273 dwellings.
At a national level, just under 60,000 residences are at significant risk from flooding, which translates to just over 3% of the residential housing stock.
These findings were determined using a detailed 3D-flood model from one of Gamma’s partners, JBA, combined with the EIRCODE database.
The highest risk score is based on likely flood damage considering both the source of the flood - including river, coastal and surface flooding - as well as likely water depth.
Feargal O’Neill, CEO, Gamma, said: ‘Increased flood risk is perhaps the biggest challenge from climate change for Ireland. Analysis like this is of significant value to home owners, local authorities, planners and insurance companies who require detailed assessment of flood-risk exposure, as we look to the infrastructure being built now to cater for increases in flood risk.’