Storm Ciarán: Flood-hit areas in Ireland brace for more rain as France issues red alert
A warning for heavy rain is in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork and Waterford as Storm Ciarán moves close to Ireland.
Authorities in France and the Channel Islands have issued red 'danger-to-life' warnings and urged people to stay indoors, saying Storm Ciarán was set to hit overnight with heavy rain and winds of up to 170km/h.
Met Éireann said rainfall associated with the storm, combined with saturated ground conditions and high river levels, may lead to flooding in the south and east of Ireland.
The warning is valid from 7pm on Wednesday until 7am on Thursday.
#Tonight wet & windy weather, associated with #StormCiaran, will move into southern counties, later pushing into eastern counties🌧️🍃
Generally dry & calm elsewhere with some frost or local ice across the north, some mist & fog also🌫️
More ℹ️⬇️https://t.co/yEsIuCkWlq pic.twitter.com/RIcfzgyYHc— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 1, 2023
It comes as parts of the country have experienced major flooding in recent days.
Flooding hit Carlingford and other parts of north Louth on Tuesday, prompting calls for funds to be made available for repairs and to prevent any further damage.
A short drive away, Newry’s residents and shop owners were left reeling after the canal burst its banks on Monday night, submerging sections of the city underwater.
Further south, flooding also damaged homes in parts of Co Wexford this week, including the town of Rosslare.
Two weeks ago, water swamped several towns and villages in the south during Storm Babet, with financial support offered to those affected by serious flooding in Midleton, Co Cork.
Micheál Martin said support for homeowners had already been extended to those living in the Cooley peninsula and other parts of Co Louth.
The Tánaiste said extending support for householders to Louth does not require Cabinet approval, but added that the business support would require ministers’ sign-off.
“That will be decided (at an) incorporeal meeting… hopefully this week,” he told RTÉ’s News at One.
The first scheme for businesses offers an initial €5,000 payment and further support of up to €20,000 based on the scale of damage to businesses.
A second scheme, set up in response to unprecedented flooding in Midleton, offers an initial payment of €10,000 to businesses and up to €100,000 after auditing and assessment.
Householders can access relief through the Humanitarian Assistance Programme, administered by the Department of Social Protection, which was allocated an additional €3 million in funding by the Cabinet last week.
Income limit levels in order to qualify for the scheme were also increased, from €30,000 to €50,000 for a single person; €50,000 to €90,000 for a couple; and €10,000 to €15,000 per child.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath visited areas in Co Louth affected by flooding on Wednesday.
