Threat of flooding will get worse as Shannon to reach critical 2009 levels
THE threat of severe flooding will hang over towns along the River Shannon for at least another week as more heavy rain sweeps in off the Atlantic.
Water levels on the Shannon are expected to reach 2009 levels – the highest on record which saw large swathes of the country underwater – by the weekend, prompting fears of major flooding across Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
There is also concern for towns along the river, such as Athlone, where the river burst its banks in places last night.
The National Co-ordination Group (NCG) has warned that while levels are falling in a number of rivers which flooded over the weekend, the lower Shannon will be affected over the coming days.
“One-fifth of the country drains down through the Shannon... concern for NCG remains on the lower and middle Shannon catchment, where the water levels continue to rise steadily as the rain from last weekend makes its way to the sea,” a briefing note seen by the Irish Independent says. “Some rivers remain at critical levels and the Shannon is still rising. Weekend will be a critical period with high tides expected (half metre higher than last weekend). Spilling from Parteen Weir could reach 450m3/s (2009) levels by weekend.”
Thousands of sandbags have been distributed to towns and villages, with members of the Defence Forces and council staff working around the clock to protect homes and businesses.
In Sligo, 12ft of water engulfed the family home of widow Catherine Lynch.
The head of the NCG warned no amount of readiness will save some properties.
Sean Hogan said: “Unfortunately we’ve seen as the floods keep rising and the waters keep rising and with sandbagging, it’s still not able to protect all properties and the water seeps around. Properties remain under threat despite knowing the areas which are at risk.”
It is understood several families living close to the Shannon have been warned by officials that they should consider leaving their homes ahead of the weekend. By last night, just a small overflow was reported in Athlone.
However, as much as 450,000 litres of water a second will be released from the Parteen Weir, following days of heavy rain, with officials warning river levels remain dangerously high as Storm Desmond continues to take its toll.
There is also a warning flood waters may not recede “for days and weeks” in some places. Families and business people affected by the flooding to date can expect to receive some degree of payment from the State before Christmas, the Irish Independent understands.
The criteria for accessing money from the €5m being given to the Irish Red Cross is likely to be determined by the weekend.
“The plan is that everybody without flood insurance will get money by Christmas,” said a source.
However, they added: “It may not be a very large payment. This is not a compensation scheme.”
Met Éireann said there will be showers in the west and north today, becoming widespread during the afternoon.
However, it forecast possible heavy rainfall for the south of the country over the weekend.
Speaking in Paris at the UN climate summit, Environment Minister Alan Kelly ruled out a return home to oversee the emergency response, saying he was in constant contact with officials and that all available local authority staff had been deployed.
He expressed concern that areas not believed to be at risk had flooded, and said an audit of local authorities was underway to determine the extent of the damage and to outline costs.
The Government would meet the bill, he said.
“I think the response is very good. Every single member of outdoor staff in the affected areas are out as many hours as they can physically work,” he said.
“In conjunction with the gardaí, Defence Forces and Civil Defence, everything that can be done at the local authority and community side is being done.”