Council considers flood alert system

Cork’s city manager is considering the introduction of a city-wide flood alert system.

Tim Lucey said he would bring a full report to council on Monday week outlining the council’s response to Thursday’s flood emergency, and how it plans to respond to similar incidents in future. He confirmed last night that a general flood alert was being considered, but warned that it could only be of a general nature.

Cork City Council received a weather alert from Met Eireann, warning of heavy rainfall of up to 70mm in parts of Munster, on Wednesday afternoon.

It was in turn passed to certain media outlets, and to about 60 people, mostly city centre business owners, who have opted into an email alert system established after the massive 2009 flood.

Mr Lucey accepted last night that issuing this alert in a wider form to the public would be of value.

It was not clear whether it would be in text or email form — similar to the systems used to warn motorists about closures of the Jack Lynch tunnel, and about diversions at the Bandon and Sarsfield Rd roundabouts during flyover construction.

But the manager said: “There are certain shortcomings associated with widespread weather alerts.”

Sophisticated water-level monitoring equipment would need to be installed on all the rivers and streams which feed in to the city to give specific flood warnings to specific areas, he said.

Lord Mayor Cllr John Buttimer said the council could improve its communications. “A communication strategy incorporating text messaging and the use of social media could successfully deliver critical information directly to those affected in a timely manner.”