Counting the cost of the weekend deluge in Kildare
THE worst floods in living memory have caused chaos across huge tracts of mid-County Kildare.
Roads were closed, nursing homes evacuated and residential areas left under water as Kildare County Council emergency services struggled to cope with the crisis.
There were severe problems in parts of Naas, Sallins, Johnstown, Clane, Newbridge, Ballymore and Kildare town following persistently heavy rainfall overnight on Saturday and throughout Sunday causing watercourses to overflow and putting water disposal infrastructure under intolerable pressure.
Sixty families were evacuated from the Corran Ard estate at Kilkenny Road, Athy and emergency and voluntary assistance was drafted in from neighbouring counties.
The Waterways apartment and housing complex in Sallins was the worst hit residential area. Water levels there rose by two feet on Sunday forcing people from their homes and again on Monday when more residents fled, with some leaving by boat.
There was also spot flooding in Newbridge but major problems were averted after the ESB retained water in the upper levels of the River
Liffey at Golden Falls and Poulaphouca, near Ballymore.
On Sunday roads leading to Blessington, Newbridge and Caragh were
flooded and in Naas on Sunday the canal harbour area was under water.
Waterways resident Orlagh Townsend, returned with boyfriend Jason Walsh after a weekend in Tipperary to the unfolding disaster.
"We got a phone call from the landlord and by the time we got back at 5pm on Sunday evening the water was waist high. When we got inside our belongings were floating around and just about everything we had is now lost. In the end we needed the Civil Defence to get us out safely," said Ms. Townsend.
"I was so upset that I cried all night and I was thinking about the Christmas present I had bought that are also now lost. But these can be replaced. I feel sorry for the landlord because the apartment has effectively been gutted," she reflected.
Sinn Fin representative Martin Kelly criticised the slow response of the council and said not enough sand was made available to provide sandbags in Sallins.
However, local councillor Paddy McNamara praised council staff for working throughout Sunday night in a bid to clear the water.
A public meeting took place in Sallins on Monday evening, organised by the community council and the GAA club, to offer people practical advice and it was attended by insurance assessors.
There is speculation that a soakpit in Sallins became too full of water and then overflowed with disastrous consequences.
"The amount of rainfall was 300 per cent of the norm but we will need to pinpoint the reason for the flood," added Cllr. McNamara.
Cllr. Darren Scully, claimed that the Waterways development was constructed on a flood plain and a pitch and putt course there frequently flooded in the past.
County council spokesman Charlie Talbot would not comment on whether the development was built on a flood plan.
"We're reviewing the situation regarding the Waterways and until that is done we won't pronouce on where it was built or whether the drainage can cope," he told the Leader.
"The first responsibility for maintaining common spaces where the flooding occurred is with the management company," added Mr.Talbot.
FOR MORE REPORTING ON THE FLOODS CLICK HERE
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Weather for Naas, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
