More severe floods for Cork as council activates emergency plan
By Eoin English
Frantic preparations are underway in Cork city centre this afternoon as the city braces for flooding this evening.
Cork City Council has distributed almost 700 sandbags to the most at-risk areas for the last few hours, and almost 2,000 inflatable flood barriers have been distributed this afternoon.
But several traders on Oliver Plunkett St have complained about the lack of organisation around the distribution operation.
They said dozens of people had to gather around trucks and scrambled for sandbags, which were snapped up in a few minutes. Some people used supermarket trolleys to carry sandbags away.
Fianna Fail Cllr Terry Shannon has appealed for calm, insisting that there is no shortage of sandbags.
A tidal flood alert is in place for the low-lying areas of the city this evening, with flooding expected to be worse, and more extensive than yesterday.
The city has activated its ‘Flood Emergency Response Plan’ with various state agencies, including the army, on standby to help.
High tide is expected just before 9pm but Cork City Council has asked motorists and pedestrians to avoid the city centre between 8pm and 10pm.
UCC has announced that it is taking extra precautions tonight and deploying tidal barriers at a range of buildings from 6pm.
The only UCC property normally at risk from tidal flooding are some parts of the Lee Maltings complex.
However tidal barriers will be deployed at The Enterprise Centre and Butler Building in the North Mall, the Connolly Complex, including The Granary, 20/21 Dyke Parade and Muskerry Villas this evening.
Because heavy rain is forecast, flood barriers will also be deployed at The Laurels and Roseleigh on the Western Road to guard against possible flash flooding.
The university has asked people who use these buildings to vacate by 6pm.
It is hoped the barriers will be removed by 7.30am tomorrow, with all the buildings open by 8.30am.
"However, we will monitor the water levels at high tide tonight and if the levels are higher than forecast and if they threaten any of the above buildings, we will leave the barriers in place until high tide passes at 09.21am tomorrow. In that case we would expect to have the buildings open for 10am," a spokesman said.
The CIT Cork School of Music is closing at 7pm tonight and the Cork College of Commerce has cancelled night classes.
