Councils’ flood planning was a washout

FOLLOWING the massive flooding of Cork last week, the city and county management has a lot to answer for. The city manager says the flooding was “a totally unprecedented situation”.

Maybe, but not unpredictable.

Cork city lies only a few feet above sea level .... low-lying and flat in the centre with a history of being prone to flooding. And not far from a hydroelectric dam. Why didn’t the city management anticipate this happening?

Millions of euro in taxes are given to the city each year. What value have we got? Don’t mention the main drainage scheme as it does not relate to this type of flood.

And don’t talk of response. An emergency response team deals with events post-facto. However the setting up of such a team seems to indicate there might be a need for it (or is this just fancy?).

Cork county management is in an even worse position, if that’s possible. The people of Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Fermoy, Mallow, etc, have been warning of the impact of such a deluge for years.

What action was taken by County Hall, itself placed in a most vulnerable location in the city?

Local politicians, as usual, talk the talk and seem toothless. If they have to bark they should do it quietly.

Environment minister John Gormley promises €50 million will be set aside to make good damage in the future.

Why was this money not spent on prevention?

And then there is the dialogue of the deaf between the ESB and the local authorities.

“We told you we were releasing water”.

“No, you didn’t.”

“Yes, we did.”

Grow up, children. One email would have sorted that out.

How much of our money will now be spent on the clean-up? I believe I know where the clean-up should begin. Yep, you got it. Where, oh where, did our managers get this Noah complex? Location, location, location in this case means anticipation, anticipation , anticipation.

Anyway, c’mon now. “We all live in a Yellow ......... ”

Rory Conway

Hettyfield

Douglas

Cork