A LOCAL COMMUNITY in Co Mayo rallied together yesterday evening to help evacuate 48 residents of a nursing home.

This happened after the local River Moy burst its banks and it looked like the rising water levels were set to creep into Blackrocks Nursing Home in Foxford.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke programme, local councillor Neil Cruise said that it had been a group of local volunteers as well as responding services that allowed the residents to be removed to safety.

“It was a big process, but all of the big agencies came together,” he said, “We successfully evacuated all and got beds for all. I will have to say to the HSE, Mayo County Council, the ambulance service, the fire brigade – everyone did their piece, especially the Foxfort community. They really stood up on this one.”

The evacuation effort got underway at around 8.30pm yesterday evening as a precautionary measure.

The residents – most of whom were able walk out of the home – were taken to a number of other nursing facilities, with a large number going to Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar.

Thankfully, the nursing home was not flooded, although Cllr Cruise says that water came “within inches” of entering the home.

Efforts have been made this evening to pump water away from its vicinity, although water levels are still high and a wind warning is in place for western coastal counties that is set to last into this evening. 

Read: Bad news for Clare, it has just been hit with a new flood warning

Also: Taoiseach says that emergency funding could be used to tackle flood damage