Midleton residents whose homes were devastated in floods say they feel forgotten

Businesses could receive up to €100,000 but residents of estates such as Beechwood say they feel ‘invisible’ after Storm Babet

One of the residents of flood-devastated Beechwood Drive in Midleton is Emily Halihan: ‘The only thing we have saved from 77 years of memories was a single chair.’ she says. Picture: Chani Anderson

Homeowners of an East Cork housing estate have told how they feel like the forgotten faces following the destruction of Storm Babet, with many facing uncertain futures after losing everything they cherish.

Homes across Beechwood Drive in Midleton were besieged by rushing floodwaters that engulfed their homes from all sides within minutes, completely destroying the downstairs.

Furniture, appliances, flooring, kitchen units, and windows have had to be thrown out, with most homes unable to get flood cover from insurers.

Jessica Daly and her mother Nuala outside their home in Beechwood Drive, Midleton, an estate that was devastated by the Storm Babet floods. Picture: Chani Anderson

Yet while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and various ministers appeared in Midleton to assure support to vulnerable business owners who lost hundreds of thousands worth of collective stock, there has been no focus from Government for Beechwood, its residents say.

The estate is a mix of private homes and Cork County Council-owned, but most say they are in limbo waiting to see what comes next.

Pauline Duggan, who has lived in the estate for 30 years, said even sleeping and eating in the days since has proved difficult.

Margaret Crone, whose home in Beechwood Drive, Midleton was destroyed during the floods, recalls the fear of losing her husband’s ashes to the deluge. Picture: Chani Anderson

“We are here 30 years but I have never seen anything like that before, it came like a river. So much has been destroyed yet we cannot get flood cover. I wake up in the night crying,” she said.

Residents feel “like we’re invisible”, she said.

Volunteers from the likes of Midleton Hub and local councillors like Danielle Twomey have been “amazing”, she said.

Residents of Beechwood Drive in Midleton, Co Cork, tell of the panic as they had just minutes to choose what possessions to save in last week's Storm Babet deluge. Picture: Chani Anderson

Those volunteers, as well as the estate’s teenagers and young adults, are heroes, according to Ms Duggan and others affected.

Next door, 80-year-old Jean Walsh saw everything she owns wiped out, save for her cherished armchair.

Her daughter Emily Hallinan said: “There is so much of our lives gone, from furniture to the kitchen to little things that may not look expensive but are
priceless in sentimental value. We worry about what is to come, how we rebuild our mum’s home.”

‘I wake up in the night crying, should I be collecting sandbags for the next time?’ Pauline Duggan, whose home in Beechwood Drive, Midleton, Co Cork, was destroyed during the flood. 

Margaret Crone got stuck at her place of work on the day of the flood and arrived back home the next morning to a scene of carnage, with everything she has known gone.

However, the grandson of her neighbour Marian Buckley managed to save the most precious keepsake of all.

The ashes of Ms Crone’s late husband managed to be saved when 17-year-old Dylan Buckley waded through feet of water to bring them to safety.

Homes in Beechwood Drive, Midleton, Co Cork, devastated by recent Storm Babet floods. Picture: Chani Anderson

Dylan and other young people should be recognised for their selfless efforts along with “the best neighbours in the world” in coming to the aid of their community, along with Midleton Hub volunteers, she said.

“You only realise how much you appreciate the simple things when they are gone,” said Ms Crone.

While businesses in Midleton could receive up to €100,000 in payments as part of new relief proposals, homeowners in the likes of Beechwood say they have no communication as to what happens to them.

‘I never thought I’d be afraid of the sound of raindrops,’ says Jessica Daly, near the spot where she watched the water rip through the wall in her back garden at Beechwood Drive, Midleton. Picture: Chani Anderson

Those in privately owned homes in the estate are waiting on insurance assessments to see if what happened qualifies, but others have been told they do not have cover.

While community welfare officers have been empathetic and very helpful, the residents have asked for the picture to be made clear so they can start planning their recovery.

Homes in Beechwood Drive, Midleton, which were completely destroyed by recent floods. Picture: Chani Anderson

Late on Tuesday, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys announced an additional €3m in funding for the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme and an increases to the income limits in order to assist some 223 households in Cork and Waterford following Storm Babet. 

Levels of payment under the scheme depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs, ensuring that the funding is appropriately targeted, she has said.

The scheme does not cover risks that are already covered by insurance policies or cover business or commercial losses.