Structural issues arising from flood damage and the lack of insurance cover for victims topped the agenda at a public meeting in Clonakilty today.
Minister for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes toured affected premises before addressing up to 100 attendees’ concerns at the meeting.
As part of the tour, Minister Hayes viewed dramatic footage of floodwaters sweeping the town captured by CCTV cameras at O’Donovan’s Hotel at 4am on Thursday.
The footage shows the town’s main thoroughfare clear of floodwaters at 4.02am. Five minutes later a torrent of outflow from the River Feale’s burst banks had dumped two feet of floodwaters down Pearse Street.
“The footage shows the water filling the street so fast it would have passed a pedestrian out ten times. It’s frightening to think how fast it came. If it was during the day there could have been lives lost,” owner Dena O’Donovan said.
Townspeople are keen to see flood protection measures implemented as they face crippling costs to replace stock, equipment and repair interior and structural damage businesses and homes.
Local councillor Humphrey Deegan (FG) said many businesses were essentially worthless without flood insurance. The town is now more exposed than ever, he said, with old walls swept away by last Thursday’s flood.
“People are utterly afraid of any storm forecasts and a repeat flash flood. We have the reports from 2009 stating what flood defence measures are needed, what’s required now is money,” he said.
Fuchsia Footwear owner Kevin O’Regan said businesses that were never flooded before are now facing insurance problems that previously affected low lying areas of the town, such as Rossa St and Connolly St.
“Tidal flooding has always been a threat but now the potential for danger has shifted to the western side of town and that has to be looked at. Its very hard to quantify the damage done but I’m sure it will run into €30 million or €40 million at least,” he said.
Minister Hayes said he was in discussions with the Insurance Federation of Ireland on behalf of those affected. He ‘was not in a position’ to announce plans to release emergency funding yesterday but pledged to support work for structural projects in the locality.
“We need to find out extent of damage first. From the OPW’s perspective if there are applications for emergency funding from the town or county council we will look at the need to fast track them. These might be on a more minor scale but my concern is about the here and now and turning around such applications,” he said.
Jim Daly TD, who visited homes and businesses in Ballinascarthy yesterday, said the problem was not limited to Clonakilty alone.
“There are at least a dozen homes and businesses affected in Ballinascarthy, where flood waters rose up to three feet,” he said.
He plans to press Minister for Environment Phil Hogan for an answer on flood relief funding for Clonakilty and neighbouring regions in the Dail tomorrow.
A website dedicated to flood relief has been set up by the local favour exchange group, visit www.clonflood.com