Storm Chandra clean-up begins as flooding risks persist nationwide
Members of Slaney Search and Rescue working in floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Communities across several counties face lengthy clean-up operations following Storm Chandra, with forecasters warning of further issues in the days ahead.
Counties in the east and southeast were among the worst affected, including Dublin, Wexford, and Wicklow.
Widespread flooding caused severe disruption, leaving thousands of homes, farms, and businesses without electricity and dozens damaged.
Floodwaters, which are not expected to fully recede for several hours, left many roads impassable, with motorists warned to watch for fallen trees.
Met Éireann meteorologist Mark Bowe warned that people must remain vigilant, despite the rain easing.
Mr Bowe said conditions are expected to remain unsettled for several days.
"We are in a bit of a dry slot at the moment, but looking ahead for the next couple of days, especially today and into tomorrow, we are going to see some light patchy rain at times, more significant rain moving into parts of the Southwest. But because the river levels are so high and the land is so saturated, the river levels, the next coming few days, also people should still be quite vigilant even though it has stopped raining," he told Newstalk Breakfast.
"We've got a front moving over on Thursday that will bring some more rain.
"So bear in mind that, like I was saying, the ground is already quite saturated, so there's not a significantly longer dry spell, at least over the coming few days for that to happen."
Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Keith Leonard told : "Hopefully most routes now will have improved and bus services should be back in operation in most areas, but there are still some smaller roads that are closed due to flooding and impacts right across the region.
"From a public safety perspective we had a number of people who were rescued from cars yesterday so we would ask people where roads are marked off as closed not to use those roads under any circumstances."
He said assistance is available to those affected by Storm Chandra through Community Welfare Offices under the Department of Social Protection, contactable on 0818 607 080.
Enniscorthy in Co Wexford was badly hit after the river Slaney burst its banks, marking the sixteenth time the town has flooded since 2001.
Grandmother Elaine Grant described how she got rescued with her daughter Casey and her three-week-old grandson in Enniscorthy.
“(The baby) slept the whole way through,” she told RTÉ Radio, as she called for Government measures for the flood-prone town.
Slaney Search and Rescue brought along an empty boat to the apartment block so they could bring along items for the newborn.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Department of Social Protection will assist households affected by flooding and provide support where required.
He said the business and community support scheme will be activated.
Mr Martin added Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, and Cork were “significantly disrupted” but said there were “flooding impacts across the country”.
The storm has also renewed focus on emergency preparedness, with recommendations from the Oireachtas Climate Committee highlighting the need for better planning for vulnerable groups.
In proposals following Storm Eowyn last January, committee members said emergency co-ordinators must ensure accurate records of people living with disabilities ahead of major storms.
The committee said the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group (NECG) should “engage directly with disabilities and disability organisations” and review how the vulnerable customer register is managed across State agencies including ESB, the HSE, and Uisce Éireann.
It also recommended placing the maintenance of forestry near overhead power lines on a statutory footing to “enhance network resilience”, while calling for improved accuracy and communication around power restoration times.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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