Streets remain closed in Bantry due to flooding following Storm Francis

Latest:

Cork County Council’s Crisis Management Team convened via teleconference again at 12noon today in relation to Storm Francis, following an earlier meeting of the Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team.

Council response crews and contractors remain on standby and are continuing with the significant cleanup operation underway following flooding in Bantry, Bandon and at a number of additional locations overnight.

In Bantry, New Street and the junction at New Street / Bridge Street / High Street / Main Street are currently closed to assess the damage caused to the culvert by last night’s severe rainfall event. The assessment will be undertaken as soon as storm water levels decrease sufficiently.

The N71 at Rosscarbery did experience further flooding overnight, following reports of over 53mm of rainfall over a 24 hour period, of which the vast majority fell in the later part of last night. 

As part of advance precautionary measures, Council crews undertook additional pumping and installed a number of large sandbags in the area. No properties were affected.

Update: 

Flooding and road damage across Cork is being assessed by Cork County Council crews following Storm Francis last night.

Their Severe Weather Assessment Team convened via teleconference at 9:30am this morning, following earlier meetings of the Council’s Crisis Management Team at 4:00am and again at 5:15am.

A significant cleanup operation is underway following flooding in Bantry and Bandon, as well as in a number of other locations.

A number of roads have been impacted by flooding, Cork County Council asks all road users to exercise extreme caution while crews continue to clear the routes affected.

The Skibbereen to Dunmanway Road is also closed at the machinery yard.

Flooding has been cleared from the N22 at Macroom and Ballyvourney. 

A river has burst it’s banks at Halfway House, Kilnamartyra Cork County Council is currently monitoring the River Blackwater, as well as Park Road in Mallow. Precautionary flood barriers remain in place in Mallow and Fermoy.

A landslide has been reported on the Crossbarry Begleys Forge road, Council crews are en route to investigate.

The Ballyduff to Fermoy road at the Kilworth Junction is currently closed, but is expected to reopen later today.

Cork County Council Fire Crews have responded to a number of calls overnight in relation to flooding, including brigades from Bantry, Skibbereen, Bandon, Youghal, Dunmanway and Kinsale.

The Council’s emergency phone line received over 39 calls overnight, largely in relation to reports of road flooding.

Council response crews and contractors remain on standby today.

Earlier: People are being reminded to take care on the roads today, despite the worst of Storm Francis having passed over Cork.

A Status Yellow Wind warning remains in place until 7pm today in Cork and for all other counties in Munster, as well as for Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow.

Met Éireann have said that very windy and story conditions are expected today as the storm moves across Ireland: “Southwest winds veering westerly, reaching mean speeds of 55 to 65km/h, will bring widespread gusts of 90 to 110km/h (and possibly higher in exposed areas).” 

Cork County Council have also warned that following weather events in recent weeks, trees have been weakened and remain susceptible to further damage.

Landowners are being asked to examine trees within their property for damage, while road users are asked to be aware of spot flooding, debris and fallen trees on many roads, and the danger posed by high winds.