Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Galway deals with the aftermath after 'unprecedented' floods hit the city

Locals have been critical of the council’s response yesterday.

Connacht Tribune Group / YouTube

GALWAY CITY HAS been left with a massive clean-up operation today after “unprecedented” and unexpected levels of water flooded the streets at rush hour yesterday.

Two ‘status orange’ weather alerts were issued by Met Éireann for yesterday afternoon and evening, as Storm Eleanor swept in from the west.

Galway City Council has been criticised by local politicians and residents this morning for its lack of flooding preparation.

However, Galway City Council has said that it prepared the city and its residents for high winds coinciding with high tides, as forecast by Met Éireann yesterday – but that what came last night wasn’t predicted.

“We put out a notice yesterday warning about the ‘status orange’ level of winds and high tide, but we didn’t expect this level of flooding when the warning went out, based on the forecast we were given,” communications officer for Galway City Council Gary McMahon told TheJournal.ie. 
https://twitter.com/DN77/status/948250638902857729

Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, McMahon explained why last night’s flooding could not have been predicted.

“We believe there were significantly higher levels of water out in the bay which, combined with the high tides and the storm surges, the wind speed and its direction and the low barometric pressure, basically compounded at 5.30pm, at high tide,” McMahon said.

Within minutes, as a surge of water broke the banks, Galway was flooded with water.

It was unprecedented and it wasn’t entirely expected.

https://twitter.com/Spanish_arch/status/948288554135949313

Flood defence 

Despite claims that the city wasn’t prepared for flooding, McMahon said that a large number of sandbags have been in place around the city since October’s Storm Ophelia.

These were supplemented from about 10pm last night, according to McMahon.

Minister for State at the OPW with responsibility for flood relief Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran told Morning Ireland that he will be asking why a flood warning wasn’t issued in Galway but said that today “is not for the blame game”.

“These extreme weather events are happening too often and we have to look at why. That’s the real issue today, not the blame game,” he said.
https://twitter.com/brighttyger/status/948248971587260416

Moran said that flood risk maps are due for Galway at the end of the month and permanent flood defence planning will be based on those.

Clean up efforts

The Defence Forces were called in to assist Galway County Council last night.

Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the OPW and flood relief Eugene Murphy has called on the government to ensure that local authorities are provided with additional resources to help with the clean up-efforts.

“Homes and businesses across Galway have been submerged under flood waters, while roads have been blocked and power is out as a result of fallen debris in many parts of the west,” Murphy said.

This is a heartbreaking situation for people who are facing a renewed clean-up operation, less than two months after the last one.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said that staff will be available this morning to support householders in affected areas.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

As the clean-up operations begin, financial support will be made available to householders affected and the Humanitarian Assistance scheme activated as necessary.

While Galway escaped further flooding this morning at high tide, McMahon said that a number of roads may be closed off in anticipation of any flooding that may occur during this evening’s hide tide.
https://twitter.com/mick_scott/status/948250230440505344

Thousands of people have been left without electricity as a result of the storm.

You can check power outages in your local area on the ESB’s Powercheck tool, here.

Read: Orange warning stays in place as Storm Eleanor hits Ireland

More: Flooding, fallen trees and power outages as Storm Eleanor passes through the country

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
28 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Conneely
    Favourite Thomas Conneely
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 10:22 AM

    Yet again cars were floating in the carpark in Salthill. EVERY TIME there is a flood risk this carpark needs to be closed – it is frequently used by tourists or visitors who probably have no idea its very prone to flooding. water crashes over the promenade, sits in the carpark whicjhi s behind it ( and at a lower elevation). Also, why was the promenade in salthill not closed? Widely shared video online of a mini driving down the prom and almost being overwhelmed by waves. D’oh.

    166
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cowboy Ted
    Favourite Cowboy Ted
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 5:58 PM

    @Thomas Conneely:
    There should be a plan to tow all the cars left there to St Marys or some higher car park and then charge them all €20 euro to get there car back… Simple and the towers could do well too…

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 9:51 AM

    I guess that’s why they call it a ‘forecast’ and not a ‘prediction’. Good to see Galway CC are bringing the world spirit of 2017 into the New Year, not accepting responsibility for their actions (or lack thereof).

    113
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Old Gabby Johnson
    Favourite Old Gabby Johnson
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 9:59 AM

    Where was the national emergency team for this? For Ophelia they were all over this and yet for last nights storms which were worse in parts of the country there was nothing>? Time of the year perhaps – Dail in recess?

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maire
    Favourite Maire
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 10:04 AM

    Well I happened to see all the Weather forecasts yesterday, the Storm was forecast, Weather Warnings issued, People obviously did not Listen!!

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dwayne Jordan
    Favourite Dwayne Jordan
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 10:09 AM

    @Maire: I disagree the orange weather warning was issued for Munster, Leinster and South Galway only much later in the afternoon was it extended to other areas.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Loftus
    Favourite John Loftus
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 11:54 AM

    @Dwayne Jordan: It was predicted for the whole west coast & Ulster beyond. Who are you trying to defend?

    30
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 6:35 PM

    Also the city council must be aware of the times of high tide. I saw a theory that the supermoon brings higher tides, anything to that?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm K
    Favourite Colm K
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 11:52 AM

    Met Eireann need more buoys in the Atlantic. It only became apparent at 4pm when data was sent back from existing buoys that the storm was more intense and following a more northerly track than forecast. Perfect combination for flooding in Galway of a huge storm surge, westerly winds and high spring tide. Forecast will only get you so far especially for storms like we saw yesterday. To prevent further flooding and lack of warning, Met Eireann need to invest in more infrastructure. There is the whole Atlantic ocean out there and we know very little about what is going on out there.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TheBluffmaster2
    Favourite TheBluffmaster2
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 10:56 AM

    where was Threasa Mannion when we needed her most ?Why wasn’t she on the Salthill prom warning us of the deluge? sigh!!!

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Walt Jabsco
    Favourite Walt Jabsco
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 11:01 AM

    @TheBluffmaster2:
    She was taking her own advice and staying away.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Smyth
    Favourite Ken Smyth
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 12:23 PM

    She was driving down it in a mini

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GO GREEN
    Favourite GO GREEN
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 12:13 PM

    These ‘unprecedented’ floods once in a hundred year events are now happening on a regular basis – its called climate change and its only going to get worse and with Trump pushing every more fossil fuels throughout the world. We need to adapt and adapt fast – grow more trees – save boglands – embrace green energy. We have less than 3 years to take action before all hell breaks loose.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Hughes
    Favourite Seamus Hughes
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 1:29 PM

    @GO GREEN: The observed data is clearly showing that climate is not very sensitive to mans activities but has an almost linear correlation to Sun activity.
    Co2 is 0.04% of the Atmosphere and we are been told that this is the problem. It’s a fraction of one % and yet we blame it for everything that suits our agenda.
    The sun however is 99% of the mass of the solar system and has cycles of low and high activity, maybe, just maybe that big thing in the sky has something more to do with it than the 0.04% of our atmosphere.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GO GREEN
    Favourite GO GREEN
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 2:06 PM

    @Seamus Hughes: Not true – over 90% of the extra heat from co2 induced fossil fuels has gone into oceans .Without the oceans to absorb the extra heat we would already be another Venus. In any event Scientists Can Now Blame Individual Natural Disasters on Climate Change
    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-can-now-blame-individual-natural-disasters-on-climate-change/?wt.mc=SA_Twitter-Share

    12
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ó Connmhaigh
    Favourite Ó Connmhaigh
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 3:44 PM

    @GO GREEN:
    Even the World Economic Forum (WEF), hardly an extreme environmental group, has forecast a catastrophic fall in world food production by a third by 2050 due to climate change. And against a jump in world human population to 10 billion, from currently 7.6 billion in that time.
    The WEF produce a global risk report, listing the five greatest risks to humanity. Fifth of five are weapons of mass destruction. All the top four are climate related, number one being ‘Failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change’.
    That is all going to encourage human migration on a massive scale, in particular to northern/western Europe and New World countries. The impact on social cohesion and civil unrest is going to be the story of the century.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GO GREEN
    Favourite GO GREEN
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 5:29 PM

    @Ó Connmhaigh: This is true and it is also true that adaption is only a short term solution as even the Antarctica is already showing signs of disintegration. There should be a policy of encouraging people to have less children at a time when countries like Turkey and Poland are calling for woman to have many more children.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Sweeney
    Favourite Richard Sweeney
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 11:13 AM

    Where are all the morons who just yesterday were on here criticising these weather warnings? Now there’re people today saying that the warnings were insufficient.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Coughlan
    Favourite Paul Coughlan
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 11:25 AM

    At ten last night GCC started to add sand bags to the old ones which were in situ since Ophelia in October. At ten last night were the streets flooded. Was it too little too late.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 6:28 PM

    There were people on Twitter appealing for sandbags, explaining that you couldn’t collect them yourself but had to wait for staff to deliver the sandbags around Galway. Maybe a more central store would have helped?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Locojoe
    Favourite Locojoe
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 1:37 PM

    Someone should tell Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran that today is the day for the blame game. There should be proper permanent flood defences installed throughout the country. We are decades behind. Public sector pay increase (restoration) should be postponed until proper flood defences are in place. And maybe Boxer should take some responsability for what happened in Galway.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal MacDocraigh
    Favourite Cathal MacDocraigh
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 6:39 PM

    @Locojoe: boxer busy at the moment doing photo shoot in Galway with sandbag on shoulder Ues he came he saw he saved the day
    Neck like a donkey that buck

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal MacDocraigh
    Favourite Cathal MacDocraigh
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 6:39 PM

    @Locojoe: boxer busy at the moment doing photo shoot in Galway with sandbag on shoulder Ues he came he saw he saved the day
    Neck like a donkey that buck

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hallelujah
    Favourite hallelujah
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 1:06 PM

    Galway city is built on the flood plain of the river Corrib. It also is on the “Wild Atlantic way”.
    Surely they need to forget the lovely “views” and start putting in proper, high, and strong flood defences. Slán

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 6:31 PM

    Maybe. (Although I see that a harbour wall’s collapsed in Cornwall.) All of our cities are seaport cities. Tidal barriers, maybe? Or decentralise?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Donohue
    Favourite Michael Donohue
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 1:12 PM

    well at least the council managed to get extra sandbags in at 10 o’clock. They should keep the floods in place nicely.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dae Monicus
    Favourite Dae Monicus
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 1:55 PM

    I’ll bet there’s hundreds of city and county councillors around the country at lunch meetings declaring, Jasis we got away with that again

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal MacDocraigh
    Favourite Cathal MacDocraigh
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2018, 6:41 PM

    @Dae Monicus: thinking ? not part of job description

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds