Town is facing evacuation as the waters rise
RESIDENTS in Clonmel are preparing to evacuate their homes in the coming days as fears grow that rising water levels could breach the town’s multimillion euro flood defences.
And yesterday the level of the River Shannon rose above its previous peak – set during the disastrous floods in 2009 – sparking concerns for Athlone and other towns.
Clonmel’s flood defence system includes walls and barriers along the River Suir as well as embankments on the Tipperary town’s fringes.
Flood defences were also deployed in Fermoy and Mallow after the Blackwater rose.
In Midleton, one in five families had to abandon their homes, according to reports.
Clonmel suffered severe flooding in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2008 and twice in 2009. The flood defences were finally completed two years ago at a cost of €40m following the floods in 2009, which caused serious damage throughout the town.
But after more heavy rainfall on Friday night and into yesterday, the water level rose just 10cm short of the critical level of 4m – after which the river will burst the defences.
Tipperary County Council has warned 100 residents living near the river to have their bags packed and be prepared to evacuate at short notice.
The town’s deputy mayor, Andy Moloney, said eight houses were evacuated last night in the Kilganey area of Clonmel, after three were evacuated two days ago.
‘Other areas are still being monitored and under caution evacuation. Families are being directed to Clonmel Park Hotel where they are being accounted for,’ he said.
Elsewhere in the county, a team of 70 volunteers spent yesterday pumping water out of Nolan’s Supervalu in Cahir after it rushed through the sandbags at 4pm yesterday.
At a meeting of the National Emergency Co-ordination Committee yesterday, Jim Casey of the Office of Public Works said water levels had also increased in the rivers Blackwater, Erne, Nore, Suir, Barrow, Slaney and Clare.
The national group has warned that the flooding crisis could continue around the country for the next two weeks.