A further meeting of the National Coordination Group to discuss the on-going severe weather was held in the (NECC) National Emergency Coordination Centre today (17th December 2015) to review the response to date, to assess the impact of the flooding on infrastructure and communities and to ensure that the response of relevant local authorities, Government Departments and Agencies continues to be coordinated.
The NCG is comprised of representatives from all the main government departments and all the key state agencies this includes, inter alia, OPW, ESB, HSE, Civil Defence, Coast Guard, Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána & Met Eireann
Local authorities continue to respond in areas affected, and remain on standby and continue to monitor the situation in the areas where further flooding may occur. The local authority response and the necessary preparations are supplemented by the Defence Forces and other service providers when and where required.
Met Eireann
Met Eireann advises today there will be with scattered outbreaks of rain, heavy at times in the west and northwest. The rain will gradually clear northeastwards this afternoon but will continue to affect the south and west coasts.
Tonight: There will be further outbreaks of rain, some heavy in the south and west at first. However, a spell of heavy rain is likely to affect Munster and Leinster later in the night.
Saturday: Early on Saturday morning the rain will clear the east and Saturday will be a showery and very windy day. The showers could turn heavy or persistent in the west. On Saturday night there is a risk of some rain in the east and southeast but it will be gone before morning. At the same time heavy showers will move into western areas from the Atlantic.
ESB
ESB advises that the level in Lough Derg has continued to fall and the flow of water through Parteen Weir will be reduced to 370 cumecs (cubic metres per second) today Friday 18th December.
It is expected to remain at this level of discharge for the next few days. This depends on the actual rainfall and the situation will be reviewed again tomorrow.
This level of water flow continues to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick. Note that other areas between Parteen Weir and Limerick may also be vulnerable to flooding due to local issues.
ESB is continuing to monitor the situation and is liaising with the relevant County Councils.
ESB further advises that flows from Inniscarra Dam will remain at 180 cumecs (cubic metres per second) today Friday 18 December, following an increase from 165 cumecs yesterday evening.
This was the level of flow from the dam (180 cumecs) between 6 and 12 December following Storm Desmond. It will have an increase of associated flooding to roads, land and property adjacent to the banks of the River Lee downstream of Inniscarra.
We continue to closely monitor the situation and are in communication with the local authorities and response agencies in accordance with our normal operating procedures.
OPW
The OPW continues to monitor the hydrometric gauges and the following is
the current position:
All levels on the Shannon catchment have recorded falls in the last 24
hours. The largest of these is in the Upper Catchment of up to 5cm and
in the mid catchment, Athlone area, the observed fall was 2cm. Further
downstream to Lough Derg, the fall was up to 3cm. In Limerick city, the
recorded fall was 4cm over the past 24 hours and 23cm since the peak on
Sunday last.
We remain in a severe flooding situation on the Shannon catchment and it
is likely that ongoing flood defence efforts (for example pumping) will
have to continue for some time.
The smaller catchments of the Brosna, Suck, Moy, Clare and Erne observed
falls of between 3-12cm in the last 24 hours.
All will continue to be monitored closely in the coming days.
Media queries in relation to Flood Relief Measures or Flood Mapping to the OPW may be directed to: OPW Press Officer at 087 9475552.
There is still some flooding on minor roads and motorists are advised to heed the local authority warnings in this regard. The RSA also has useful advice on their website
The public is reminded to avoid walking along riverbanks, which may be unsafe due to swollen rivers until it is safe to do so. They are also requested to heed any public warnings from the local authorities or local media outlets. People are further advised to follow local flood warnings issued through local authorities for more detailed information.
The Coast Guard advice to people remains the same - anybody who might visit coastal areas to take care. Their general safety message is Stay Back, Stay High & Stay Dry
The group noted the responses of emergency services, defence forces, local authority workers, state agencies, businesses and the public for their hard work and patience during the recent event. The NCG will meet again tomorrow to review matters and Local Authorities will continue to monitor river levels in the areas impacted.
Government support for small businesses
Government decided previously to establish a fund of €5m to aid small businesses which have suffered damage to their property in the current flooding. The fund will be administered on behalf of the Government by the Irish Red Cross.
The fund is intended for businesses in towns recognised to be at flood risk by the OPW and which have been unable to get flood risk insurance. Irish Red Cross have begun to receive applications for funding.
Applications forms are available on the Irish Red Cross website.
Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government
Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced that he is providing local authorities with an additional €8 million in financial assistance to facilitate and support the on-going clean-up works being undertaken at local level in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.
Department of Social Protection, Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has activated its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist householders affected by the current bad weather conditions.
Department of Social Protection Community Welfare Service officials are on the ground in the affected areas. They are continuing to monitor the situation, engage with the local authorities and emergency services and are providing the necessary supports as quickly as possible.
DSP officials are continuing to provide support to householders in affected areas including Ballinasloe, Tuam, Gort and Craughwell in Co. Galway, Crossmolina, Cong, Ballinrobe and surrounding areas in South Mayo, Athlone, Co.Westmeath, and Tralee and Killarney in Co. Kerry.
There are three stages to Humanitarian Assistance Scheme:
1 - Emergency Income Support - payment that the Department can offer is an immediate humanitarian aid payment, which is intended to cover immediate needs such as food, clothing, etc.
2 - Replacement of Goods & household items - will follow when the flooding has receded and the items that need to be replaced can be assessed
3 - Long term financial aid and works - will follow when the flooding has receded and the full extent of the damage is known.
Further information and applications forms in relation to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme are available Department of Social Protection offices in the affected areas and from the Department’s website:
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Humanitarian-Assistance-Scheme.aspx
Irish Water
Irish water has been able to maintain normal water supplies to the vast majority of its customers while dealing with 89 separate incidents affecting treatment plants due to the effects of Storm Desmond and consequent flooding.
Where there is no interruption to supply customers should continue to use water in the normal way unless advised to do otherwise.
Any customer with a query in relation to their water supply or water quality should check www.water.ie or call 1890 278 278 at any time.
#BeWinterReady
ENDS
National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
Custom House, Dublin 1
Background
The response to all emergencies is appropriately locally-led in the first instance (by relevant local authorities in the case of severe weather). The Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government monitors the situation and determines if a Severe Weather National Co-ordination Group should be convened if certain trigger conditions are arrived at or where the local response is overwhelmed and central assistance might be required.
The Storm Desmond severe weather warning issued by Met Eireann was monitored by the Department as Lead Government Department for severe weather emergencies and contact was and is maintained with Met Eireann, the local authorities and other sectors. The agencies in the front-line reported on their responses to the storm and flooding at the meeting
- See more at: http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Statement_from_The_National_Coordination_Group_on_Recent_Severe_Weather_111111.html#sthash.u0uBxjlx.dpuf