Limerick County Council and the ESB have warned of higher levels in the lower River Shannon today as people in flood-stricken towns across the State continued to struggle with flooding.
The Government yesterday announced an initial €10 million towards a Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
The ESB released more water at Ardnacrusha weir this afternoon as water levels in Lough Derg reached an all-time high overnight after heavy rainfall. The company said today's water release is being done “incrementally”.
The company added it was working with the local authorities and emergency services in the Midwest Interagency group to manage the effects of flooding.
Flooding on the Shannon has affected the entire river basin area from Leitrim and Roscommon down to Clare and Limerick.
Limerick County Council said there was no "immediate threat" of flooding to properties within the administrative area of the city council. However, it called on those in flood prone areas to remain alert to flooding risks and to have a "family flood plan" in case of worsening conditions.
A spokesman said residential areas downstream from Parteen Weir to Limerick city, including Castleconnell and Montpelier, are at risk.
In event of evacuation, the council urged people to take a number of steps, including turning off gas and electricity, and storing any electrical items upstairs or above flood level.
People were also urged to roll up carpets and rugs and place them out of harm's way and to raise furniture that cannot be moved elsewhere on bricks or blocks. Further advice on the preparation of "family flood plans" is available on www.flooding.ie
Meanwhile, in a statement issued today Limerick City Council Crisis Management Team said it is continuing to meet in respect of the flood warning issued last Monday. "While land in the Limerick City administrative area has been flooded there has been no flood damage caused to houses or businesses," it said in a statement. The pedestrian walkways along the canal bank walk are closed and members of the public are advised not to use them until further notice.
Members of the public are also advised to stay away from any land that is flooded within the City boundary and not to use the waterways for leisure purposes.
Waterways Ireland said large parts of the Shannon and canals from Leitrim to Lough Derg were at record heights. Its gauges in Athlone showed river levels at 39.2m, a half metre over the previous record, and leaving only 10cm between water either side of the lock.
Lough Ree was almost 40cm above the record height at 39.5m. Gauges on Lough Allen were also reported at 4.28m, 30cm above the record from 2000 which saw the biggest flood in 40 years. “We are now exceeding all known records,” a spokeswoman for the agency said.
After the west coast faced further storm force 10 winds and up to 30mm of rain last night, there were calls from local councillors for south and east Galway to be declared an “emergency disaster zone”.
Galway county manager Martina Moloney said she believed up to 1,300 square miles in the county had felt the impact of the floods, including some 65 roads which are closed.
Speaking this morning Clare mayor Tony Mulcahy said the Ennis Shannon basin basis was effectively full, Mr Mulcahy warned next week could see three factors merging in the form of southwesterly gales, springs tides and another 20mm of rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
There will be little let-up in the weather today, with Met Éireann forecasting very windy or stormy conditions this morning as southwest winds gust from 100 to 120 kmh in exposed places. The winds will ease as the day goes on, but heavy showers or longer spells of rain also, with a risk of thunder, are set to follow.
Scattered heavy showers, mainly in the west, are forecast for tomorrow.
Dublin Airport was affected by the winds today, with gusts up to 50 knots on the main runway. Ten planes were diverted from the capital, with air traffic controllers sending flights on to Shannon and Manchester. An airport spokeswoman said the delays were having a knock-on effect but urged all passengers to arrive as normal.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has said the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme would provide means-tested financial support to people whose homes had suffered damage. Damage to a person’s home and its basic contents, such as carpets, flooring, furniture, household appliances and bedding, will be the main criteria.
However, Fine Gael frontbencher Denis Naughten today said some families affected by floods would get "zero help" from the State and described Mary Hanafin’s €10 million compensation as "paltry".
“Minister Hanafin’s plans to means test the assistance means that some families whose homes have been ruined by the floods will get no assistance from the State. This is a disgrace," he said.
Additional reporting PA