‘I'm filling sandbags as we speak’

There was a sigh of relief around Cork yesterday after Tuesday night passed with no further incidents of flooding.

Cork saw one of its heaviest days of rain in recent history last Sunday leading to extensive flooding in many parts of the city and county.

Businesses and homes in Blackpool, Turner's Cross and Douglas Street were especially badly affected with numerous reports of drains struggling to cope with unexpectedly high volumes of rainfall.

Up to 15 Cork City Council, Cork City Fire Brigade and An Garda Síochána crews were deployed across the city to help manage the impact of the downfall.

Following Sunday’s deluge, Met Éireann issued a status orange rain warning for Cork from Tuesday night until midnight last night. However on Wednesay it was downgraded to a status yellow warning for Cork.

Justine Looney of Cork Flower Studio on Douglas Street described watching her shop take in 8 inches of water in less than 15 minutes, through the floor.

“It was completely terrifying. There were kegs floating down the street. It just happened so fast,” said Ms Looney.

“We have flood barriers at our 2 front doors but the water still came up through a drain inside the shop.”

Having seen her shop flood a number of times in the past, Ms Looney said the latest flooding is clear evidence that the controversial Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS) is not the way to go.

She said: “It's never tidal on this side of Douglas Street, it's always just the volume of rain. Cork is a marshy city so it goes with the territory.

“We are very firmly in the camp of no walls around the River Lee. I don't think hard engineering is the answer.”

Although today’s forecast is looking quite dry, there is more rain expected throughout the week and into the weekend, however no official warnings have been put in place.

“It's going to happen more and more frequently. I'm filling sandbags as we speak!” said Ms Looney.

“The biggest lesson we've learned with flooding is that you have to work with it, it's not going to stop. Climate change is so real, it's like screaming into a void sometimes. It's happening now,” she concluded.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact Cork City Council with any issue that may have arisen due to the Status Orange event on 021-4924000.