Flood-hit Clare residents being evacuated as house turns into an island
By David Raleigh
Mike Hogan, and his wife Liz along with their their two sons and two daughters were evacuated from their home on a boat today by the Clare Civil Defence.
Their home in Springfield, Clonlara, in South East Clare, which has been one of the worst of the flooded areas, is surrounded by several feet of water, that spans out across hundreds of acres of farmland.
"We can't walk through it. If we had to carry the girls it would be too dangerous," Mike said.
"It's pushing waist high. I suppose it's (over) three foot," he explained.
"My wife isn't doing too well. None of us are getting any sleep," he added.
The Clare musician, and father of four, said coping with the stress of the situation was as bad as seeing the floodwaters pouring across the fields that surround his home.
"Last night we were worrying, and checking the levels, and when we got up early again this morning (the water level) was higher," he said.
"It's a big worry as to where we are staying tonight," he added.
When increased rainfall hits the area, residents here know only too well from past experience, their homes and livelihoods once again come under threat.
When freak rainfall occurs, the ESB -- which operate the nearby Parteen Weir damn -- said they have little option but to release any increased water levels, which in turn floods Clonlara, located downstream.
"We've seen this a couple of times. The worst time was in 2009. We had to move out for almost a month," said Mike.
"It ruined a lot of the land. The house got wrecked that time and we didn't get back until near Christmas."
"I got blood poisoning the last time from all the stuff that came off the farmland," he claimed.
"It has been happening for fifteen years. You'd think we'd be used to it," he added.
The debate over what to do has caused tension between residents and the ESB.
"There has been lots of meetings," said Mike, but no one has been able to come up with even the simplest of engineering solutions.
"We can see the water flowing in from the farmers land left and right. We're surrounded. It's basically an island now," Mike said.
"We can do nothing now but get out on a boat. One or two of our neighbours were going to stay but it got so bad they're deciding to go now. You can't get supplies down for coal or heat or anything like that."
"If we want the kids to go to school, we have to get out of here at the moment."
Mike said plans were been made by Clare County Council to provide emergency accommodation.
"We got housed in Jury's Inn in 2009 for three weeks. We're hoping to do something similar today," he said.
"One of the councillors spoke to my wife and just told us just to get ourselves out of here and that they will sort out our accommodation, and we'll take it from there. They said to get our bags packed and our clothes, school uniforms that kind of thing. It's all ready to go.
A spokesman for Clare County Council said emergency accommodation, "mostly likely hotel accommodation" is being "sourced and provided to whoever may need it."
