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LAST UPDATE | 18 Oct 2023
MEMBERS OF THE Defence Forces have been deployed to Midleton in Co Cork as extreme flooding following Storm Babet has made the town “impassable” today.
Cork County Council this evening confirmed that over 100 properties in Midleton have been flooded. The Army and Civil Defence are currently on site.
Minister Heather Humphries this evening confirmed that the Humanitarian Assistance fund will be made available to those affected by flooding in Cork and Waterford.
A Status Orange Rain warning was in place for Cork and Kerry until 1pm this afternoon. A Status Yellow rain warning continues to be in place across the country.
Waterford was under a Status Orange warning until 4pm with another Status Orange warnings in place for Wexford and Wicklow from 2pm until 8pm.
Trojan work by @cc_civildefence volunteers today … spent the afternoon pumping water in Blackpool village leaving just before 6pm with most of flood waters gone 🙏 #StormBabet pic.twitter.com/jyzOSR0AYx
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 18, 2023
Firefighters and council workers have been wading through knee high water in the town in an effort to ensure that everyone is safe.
The County Council has requested that people avoid entering Midleton or travelling through it.
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Please avoid travel to Midleton if possible ⚠️⚠️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/IVZfnMhjc6
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 18, 2023
The Mayor, Councillor Frank O’Flynn, said that a months’ worth of rain has fallen in 24 hours.
“It is evidence, if any were needed, of our changing climate and the challenges it presents,” he said.
He added that areas in County Cork where flood defence schemes have been completed have fared better than others.
Labour TD for Cork East Seán Sherlock said on X, formerly Twitter, this evening that he was “very sorry” to hear about the flooding in Midleton and east Cork.
“My office remains open to coordinate in any way or to assist people in any way,” he said.
“I’m just really sorry for people who have been affected by this,” Sherlock said.
He added that he and his team will do anything they can, from their office, to assist locals at this time.
Desperate flooding scenes in Midleton and other towns across East Cork and Cork County. We’re calling for the Humanitarian Aid scheme to be deployed for those impacted urgently @labour @Corkcoco pic.twitter.com/vAjnGfOGXb
— Seán Sherlock TD (@seansherlocktd) October 18, 2023
Councillor Danielle Twomey, who is local to the town, said that Midleton hospital flooded and has been evacuated.
“I have been keeping touch with people trying to get out of homes and working with emergency services, first responders and volunteers to get to people who are still waiting for rescue,” Twomey said.
“The waters are subsiding now and tomorrow will be a sad day when we can see the destruction caused,” she said.
“Our council staff and fire services were absolute heroes today. They were everywhere they could working tirelessly. Having been in the midst of it I can tell you they worked tirelessly doing what they could,” she said.
Earlier, Twomey said “a lot of people are upset and struggling”.
She said toddlers are stuck in a local preschool, and put a call out for sandbags to be brought there to help out staff. Earlier today, she was travelling back and forth from a preschool helping children get home.
“I am on my third change of clothes, and people are still trapped in their houses,” she wrote online earlier today.
Crews are working hard in difficult conditions around the city to alleviate flooding.
— Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) October 18, 2023
In an emergency dial 999/112 ☎️#StormBabet pic.twitter.com/j3cjr0f4Ea
Locals have voiced their fears about elderly residents people trapped in their homes due to flooding.
Elderly residents in Suncourt have been advised to stay upstairs until the Defence Forces arrive. The bottom floor of their homes are flooded.
A spokesperson for the Defence Forces said that personnel have been deployed to Midleton in response to a request from the local authority.
“The extent of the DF response will be based on continued requests from relevant Local Authorities.
“DF Transport and Engineer assets can assist with transporting people from affected areas,” they said.
Photos from Midleton have shown people travelling along a main town street, which was today underwater, in a small boat.
Back of Supervalu, Midleton and Maxol station in first photo.
— Cllr. Liam Quaide (@LiamQuaide) October 18, 2023
Midleton Main St. in the second.
Climate change is here. Absolutely vital that we double down on mitigation & adaptation. pic.twitter.com/56JwlU1pBu
TD James O’Connor has welcomed the deployment, as he said that very substantial damage has been done to the town following the storm, and that more emergency service help is needed.
“I’m deeply concerned by the very significant damage caused by heavy rainfall in parts of Cork. I welcome the decision by the Defence Forces to provide emergency support after a request from Cork County Council due to severe flooding on Wednesday.
“Many roads in Midleton, Killeagh, Youghal and the surrounding areas are impassable due to the severe flood waters. It has badly affected many homes, businesses and community buildings and facilities.
“Very substantial damage has been done and I am calling for further emergency support from the Government to support the areas affected,” he said.
A spokesperson for the gardaí said that they are aware that Midleton has become “impassable” due to flooding.
“Please avoid the town if possible and use an alternative route,” they said.
🚨Glanmire Update
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 18, 2023
Cork City Council crews are on-site. Diversions in place.
Please continue to drive with caution.@CorkSafetyAlert #StormBabet pic.twitter.com/eSw03rhIwZ
A number of local representatives and politicians, including Labour’s Seán Sherlock and Cork South-West Senator Tim Lombard, had previously called for the Humanitarian Assistance fund to be put in place for those impacted.
Minister for Social Protection Humphries said: “I’m very conscious that Storm Babet is causing severe flooding and disruption, particularly in the Midleton area of Cork.
“Other parts of the county and indeed country may also be affected until the storm passes. My Department is liaising on the ground with the people affected to make sure they have access to the help that they need.”
Humphries opened the fund to those impacted and advised any homeowner affected by the storm to contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80.
The department adopts a three-stage approach as follows, when dealing with emergency events. Stage one provides emergency income support payments in the immediate aftermath of the event.
Stage two replaces white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items. The final stage identifies what longer term financial support is required, including plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.
The Humanitarian Assistance Fund for flooding was used previously in Cork in 2020 after Storm Francis.
The damage to roads and infrastructure in Cork from that storm was €6 million, according to Fine Gael Senator for Cork South West Tim Lombard.
“It is estimated that the cost of Storm Babet will greatly exceed this,” he said this evening.
“The road network across the county has been impacted with rolling road closures. The N71 is closed at Rosscarbery with diversions through the town,” the council said this evening.
“The N71 is also closed at Innishannon with reports of spot flooding at the Halfway roundabout. Traffic will be diverted via Crossbarry. The R610 in Carrigaline is virtually impassable.”
The council has told locals to only travel if necessary and to exercise extreme caution when doing so.
Waterford City and County Council has said many roads in west Waterford are experiencing significant flooding, with flooding reported on N25 and N72.
Lismore, Tallow, Clashmore, Aglish, Ballyduff Upper and the adjoining hinterlands are experiencing continuing heavy rainfall, the council said.
The council warned that this is expected to lead to significant volumes of surface water run-off, coinciding with high tide on the River Blackwater at around 8pm this evening.
Waterford City and County Council ground crews and Waterford Fire Service are at multiple sites dealing with flooding issues.
The Humanitarian Assistance fund was also extended to those impacted in county Waterford this evening.
The council said it “advises extreme caution, avoid all unnecessary journeys, avoid the areas if possible and if travelling please use an alternative route and allow extra time for journey as driving conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the course of the day”.
Members of the public can contact Waterford City and County Council’s customer service desks on 0818 10 20 20 during normal office hours, after which calls will be transferred to the council’s emergency services number.
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe today said that there is funding available to support businesses and homes affected by flooding.
“I have no doubt that whatever support is needed for people who have been affected by flooding will be made available by local authorities or directly from Government,” he said.
Storm Babet is the second named storm this season, and is also affecting the UK.
With reporting by Hayley Halpin, Mairead Maguire and Muiris O’Cearbhaill
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Well done defence forces….as always every crisis in the country they are called upon and always get the job done…..bus strike….fire service strike…. ambulance strike….so is it not about time the government pay these people what they deserve and treat them with respect not like rent a problem fixer’s
@and the hit’s just keep coming: No fear of the barrel arsed council workers getting out and doing some grafting
Thinking of everyone with homes, businesses and vehicles in the affected area. Absolutely dreadful
Did nobody know there was a storm coming no. Kids stuck in a preschool there was an orange warning in effect which means threat to life and property. Youd also think the Department of the Environment OPW and others would gets fingers out of orifices and get flood plans in operation dredge river put in flood barriers heighten walls.
@Pat Barden: the problem is we get yellow and orange warnings these days for every shower and gust of wind. It reminds me of the boy who cried wolf
@finbarr walsh: but Finbarr heading warnings isn’t only our responsibility it’s also the job of Local authorities now I understand Cork County Council were busy doing some preventative action in preparation. I read today actually Met Éireann are going to issue less Yellow warnings as they are conscious of yellow warning fatigue
@Pat Barden: that’s for a Red Warning, which it should of been
I can understand why a red warning was not given for cork and Kerry, obviously the government did not want economy to close down in 2 counties, schools should have been shut as well as all public and private companies
@burrito girl: it’s not the government. In fairness we can blame them for everything even the weather. The met office issue warnings
Should of been a Red Warning for Cork, that would of had closed the schools and some businesses, instead of endangering lives and having children and teachers trapped in schools, someone dropped the ball, big time. I suppose that’s what happens when warnings are now being given every time we get a shower of rain.
@dave walsh: if there was a red warning people be screaming its more fear mongering how did our ancestors survive with no warnings bla bla bla
@Dan Ryan: no they wouldn’t actually. People heed a red warning.
@Tomasso San Roque:
Sorry Tomasso, they don’t.
@P.J. Nolan: the point is, Red Warning schools closure is mandatory and most non essential businesses will close. Red Warnings carry far more weight then yellow and orange
@dave walsh: The problem with weather warnings for Cork county, is its size, its too big for one warning to cover the whole county. While East Cork today and probably a lot of West Cork deserved a red warning, North Cork was relatively clear of flooding, so a general red warning would have closed schools and businesses in North Cork unnecessarily.
@Sean Walsh: looking at the rainfall accumulations across Cork and they are within orange rainfall thresholds. Today’s high tides, flood defences, planning, dredging etc. are also key players in this unfortunate incidence.
Loads of areas of cork city and county badly affected since yesterday. Roads literally swept away in areas, walls collapsed, children had to be taken by emergency services from a pre school in Rochestown outskirts of cortk City, river lee has burst its banks, main road by rosscarbery impassable, Killeagh and youghal in East Cork badly flooded, people trapped in cars. Cars abandoned all over the place. Hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damage if not higher. And it’s still raining!
Well done to our Irish writers and our President speaking out against the slaughter of civilian life in Palestine.
Please continue to force your opposition to this mass murder.
Our collective disgust at this sensless loss of life needs to be fully resonant in the minds of those responsible.
Anyone in the privelaged position of having access to public persuasion has a moral duty to speak out on this and not to remain silent.
@Dissasociated Follower: Any thoughts on the flood damage in Cork?
@Dissasociated Follower: Thank you for your contribution. Except they only focused on it for a few hours it seems, in fact I’ve heard very little about all those Israelis who were slaughtered almost 2 weeks ago.
I did not see the presidents comments on that cowardly attack.
Unfortunately they’ve all now stopped voicing their opposition to the mass murder.
I feel we should have collective disgust but it seems to be directed at the victims. I fully support them in their fight against extermination.
Yes, more people need to speak out.
I fully support all of those who have suffered because of the cowardly attacks on the 7th of October last. I fully support them in their fight against extermination as is the desire of so many people for so many decades.
@Chris Thaunton: I’m sure the people who are flooded out of their homes are worried about Israel and palestine
@Joe Kelly: Hi Joe.
@Chris Thaunton: Wonder why you failed to mention over 200 Palestinians were murdered by Israeli forces this year before the attack by Hamas.. Not defending the Hamas attack, but Israel has been committing war crimes long before Hamas existed.. Surely you can recall Israeli war crimes in refugee camps in Lebanon. Two sides to every story.
Can’t remember the last time I saw the drains or the ditches being cleaned
One of the tweets above mentions ‘mitigation’ – but realistically speaking when is the last time anyone seen a river being dredged, storm drains being cleared, etc… We’re expected to pay hefty carbon taxes, LPT, etc… and sweet feck all gets done. It seems the more money the government gets, the less gets done.
Waiting for the ‘rain in October is normal’ comment.
@ForrestG45: Rain is very normal for this time of year.
@ForrestG45: this is tropical rain depression , developed off the coast of Africa, went west across to Bermuda and headed east back for Europe. Its stalled, that’s why its dumped so much rain down south. Southern UK should have flooding too.
Jaysus the journal’s deleting not just comments but entire articles now. Keep this up and they might just delete themselves entirely.
We’ve always had heavy rain,but we don’t have regular drainage cleaning any more..
The Irish far left, they’re not the brightest
@Mary Toilet: Pull the chain there Toilet, your bowl is full.
@P0h2YVAL: you choke your chain
@Mary Toilet: your bowels are located where your brain should be
Lol!
@Mary Toilet: Look where the FFG right has got us…Crumbling Health, Homelessness, Housing crisis , Make it up as you go along refugee crisis Billions in debt, Scandal after scandal…Stick to your one line propaganda..It suits you best for a troll.
@Donal Desmond: centrist parties, I look forward to the current coalition serving another term in office
@Mary Toilet: At the rate FFG candidates are abandoning a sinking ship… Well let’s see..Martin will have to go again on his knees like he did to Varadkar who lost the election to form a government… Martin’s memory may be questioned , but his ability to crawl and do u turns is natural to him.
@Donal Desmond: when was the last time a single party won a GE?
Oh no the whiskey
It’s about time our local authorities did a ‘u’ turn and reinstated all those ‘outdoor staff’ that the have let go over the past few decades. Keeping the drains, ditches and shores clean is a very important job and local knowledge is crucial.
I see a councillor has already jumped on the bandwagon. Liam Quaide, I want my money back.
Where’s this footage of Palestinians blowing up their own hospital that the Israelis have? Anyone seen it yet?
It’s a pity they not paid a decent
All they’re good for
Thank your lucky stars then
@Mary Toilet: W/anchor
Lol
@Mary Toilet: Mary I hope you never need the army for any reason because if you you’ll be damn glad of them they do a great job when called upon and are ready to respond. Well done men and woman of the Irish Army Irish Navy and Air corps
@Pat Barden: they’d be the last shower I’d be calling
@Mary Toilet: as a matter of interest, who would you call so?
Ghostbusters
@Mary Toilet: not sure if the Ghostbusters have that much experience in dealing with floods or small boat operations to rescue people.
Just ignore this eejit
@: probably an osteopath to help get her out of her æ$$
A red rain warning, a yellow wind warning, a green puddle warning, a blue moon warning. By the way what’s the weather forecast like?
Just goes to show the chaos caused by not investing in infrastructure !
“Biden secures aid route my arse”
Shame on him using it as a PR opportunity.
@Dissasociated Follower: He’s so statesman-like. Really gives morale a big boost among the next generation on both sides of the cultural divide too. Very even handed. Nobel peace prize buzz in the air possibly. C’mon Iran. Let’s not do this the hard way. Gripping political power brokering from the man
Meanwhile Biden the doddery old lad gives his blessing to the mass murth erer Netan Yahoo.
H
@Tom Henderson: huge contribution there Tom.The letter H could stand for a lot like maybe……Hot Air.
@Willie Marty:
Funny :D
@Willie Marty: At the risk of sounding like the young lad that said sorry Sir but the dog ate my homework I really did have a comment but deleted it because I am not an engineer and have no practical solutions, I must have mistakenly posted H which is not a bad letter when all is said and done.
IS Rael pursuing the Final Solution against the indigenous Arab population. Shameful. Most of our weasel politicians rabbit on about setting up safe passage for aid. Wrong. Stop the IS Raeli pilots from raining down death from the skys.
Flooded 1895. 1911. 1920. 2015. 2023.
i presume there is a plan to sort this?
listening to radio 1 this morning,every tom dick and harry getting interviewed except met eireann…heads need to role for this,last saturday nights forecast had a dry week and no mention of a storm or excess rainfall.some one needs to lose their job for this C*** up
Few sticks of dynamite on the border and let it float away
Of course the Murican president would know quite a bit about war crimes. Lots of experience.
They can write as many open letters as they like, it has nothing to do with them
Its no wonder we have towns villages and many parts of rural Ireland get flooded.The Shannon or most river in ireland have not been drained since the Brits were here Today most lakes and rivers in Ireland are full of plastic and other lasting rubbish and we blame global warming Thats rubbish We need action from politicians not soft talk
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