20 South East Clare families evacuated during recent flooding along the Lower River Shannon have been informed that they may return to their homes.Clare County Council and the HSE today met with the families who are residents of the Hampstead Park and Riverbrook Lawn estates in Shannon Banks.
Mary Halpin, General Manager with the HSE said: “We have met with the families involved and assured them in relation to their dwellings and offered general advice in relation to any issues that may require to be addressed. All families are delighted to be able to return to their homes and the HSE will continue to offer whatever support it can to families that have been displaced as a result of the flooding.”
Ger Dollard, Director of Services, Clare County Council said: “The HSE and Council have no objection to people returning to their homes. The 20 houses in question have not been affected by flooding while the construction of a 310-metre long earthen embankment along the river bank has greatly reduced any risk of flooding taking place in the area in question.”
Ennis Town Council has confirmed that two families evacuated in Ennis also have returned to their homes, while a further two families are preparing to return home. An additional seven families have been provided private rented accommodation.
According to Mr. Dollard: “23 families who are tenants of the Council were evacuated during recent serious flooding in the Clare County capital. 21 families were initially provided with emergency accommodation while two families secured alternative accommodation with relatives. 18 families remain in emergency accommodation while efforts continue, in conjunction with local Estate Agents, to secure additional private rented accommodation.”
Mr. Dollard confirmed that an additional 15 private households from flood-affected areas of Ennis had also requested emergency accommodation during the last two weeks. Five of these households remain in emergency accommodation, while the remainder have either returned home or have secured private rented accommodation.
“The Council has hired 14 dehumidifiers, which have been installed in the homes that have been least damaged by flood waters. We expect that 10 houses will be fit for occupation by mid-December and up to five additional properties will be ready before Christmas”, concluded Mr. Dollard.
Elsewhere around the County, 12 families evacuated in Clonlara (8) and the North Clare areas of Tubber and Carron (4) have yet to return to their homes and remain in alternative accommodation. The Council and the HSE are in regular contact with all families evacuated during the unprecedented recent flooding of many parts of County Clare.
Meanwhile, Clare County Council has repeated its flood risk warning for all parts of the County despite reporting a drop in water levels in recent days. Heavy rain coupled with high tides (peaking from Wednesday to Saturday this week) is expected to lead to an increase in water levels, resulting in a flood warning being maintained for all areas, particularly those affected by recent flooding.
The Council said that the Crisis Management Centre would once again become fully operational within a half hour should conditions deteriorate significantly over the coming days. In the interim, an out of hours emergency number (087-4169496) has been set up by Clare County Council.
