Post-Storm Bert Flooding Prompts Cleanup Efforts

The aftermath of Storm Bert’s heavy rainfall has left residents assessing the damage to their properties. On Saturday, approximately 18 homes and several vehicles on Park Avenue in Dundonald sustained damage due to the inundation. While residents have been able to re-enter their residences to evaluate the extent of the damage, some have expressed dissatisfaction with the actions taken by NI Water and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), citing previous alerts about flooding issues in the locality. NI Water and DfI have been approached for a statement regarding these concerns. Melissa McComb reported waking on Saturday morning to observe the lower section of her street starting to flood. Mrs. McComb, along with a neighbor, contacted the DfI’s flooding incident helpline around 07:30 GMT and was informed that an official would be dispatched to the location. She informed BBC News NI, stating, “By nine, no one had come and it was just getting worse and worse.” She further elaborated, “There is a manhole just outside my house and the water started to come up the manhole, and at that stage we thought this isn’t going to be ok.” Mrs. McComb relocated her vehicle to a nearby church car park before departing the vicinity to acquire sandbags for property protection. She recounted, “By the time we came back, the water was at a height that you couldn’t get in or out of the house.” Although Mrs. McComb had evacuated prior to the onset of the flooding, her husband remained trapped inside their residence until 14:00. Mrs. McComb expressed that despite a DfI representative eventually arriving at the location, she believed the intervention was belated. She stated, “As far as we’re aware they did not come until after nine.” For approximately a year, residents on Park Avenue have voiced worries regarding flooding in the vicinity. Mrs. McComb indicated that she now lacks faith in the problem being addressed. She articulated her feelings, saying, “I was angry and kind of fed up, [it] feels like you’ve been raising these issues and nothing has been done about it.” She further noted, “I know there was a letter issued to local councillors to say work had been carried out and I saw it yesterday and it was dated a year ago.” She concluded that the problems persist a year later. Lisburn and Castlereagh councillor Samantha Burns commented that this marks the initial instance of floodwater infiltrating properties in the area. She remarked, “We thought it had been solved.” Adding, “There had been manhole issues and blocked pipes but obviously [there are] still issues.” Ms. Burns expressed optimism that any unresolved problems would be addressed promptly. She stated, “Hopefully [we can] get the residents sorted out and get them back into their homes.” Mehdi Mozadeh, who moved into his Park Avenue residence with his wife and two young children three months prior, reported that the flooding has caused damage to his property, furniture, and even his children’s school uniforms. He commented, “I don’t know what I should do… [I have] no idea where I’m going to stay.” Communities Minister Gordon Lyons initiated an emergency payment scheme on Saturday. This initiative allows householders who have experienced “severe inconvenience” due to flooding to apply for a £1,000 payment via their local council. However, Mr. Mozadeh stated that he has not yet received any assistance or support following Saturday’s flooding. He remarked, “This is my life and [this is] so hard for me.” In County Tyrone, damage was also documented, with as many as 10 residences in Coalisland experiencing flooding on Saturday. A yellow warning for high winds was in effect for Northern Ireland until 18:00 on Sunday. This alert succeeded the strong winds and heavy rainfall that occurred on Saturday when Storm Bert reached land. Rail services experienced disruptions, and flooding led to the cancellation of certain routes connecting Belfast and Dublin. The most powerful winds in Northern Ireland on Saturday, reaching 67mph, were registered in Ballypatrick, County Antrim. Over the weekend, certain areas of Northern Ireland received rainfall exceeding half a month’s typical amount. Derrylin, located in County Fermanagh, recorded 65.2mm of rain from 18:00 GMT on Friday to 06:00 on Sunday. This figure represents 53% of the average rainfall for Northern Ireland for the entire month of November, where the average is 122.5mm. Both Altnahinch Filters in County Antrim and Murlough in County Down registered 58mm of rain, which constitutes 47% of their usual rainfall. In the Republic of Ireland, Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service, additionally issued a status yellow wind alert for several counties, which became active at 08:00 local time on Sunday morning. The alert was valid for counties Clare, Kerry, and Galway until 19:00. For Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo, the warning is scheduled to persist until 02:00 on Monday, while County Donegal’s alert remains active until 08:00. The meteorological service has cautioned about challenging travel conditions, alongside the risk of fallen trees and debris. On Saturday, the service had previously issued red alerts, signifying the highest level of warning, for heavy rainfall in west Cork and west Galway. County Donegal experienced significant flooding on Bridge Street in Killybegs, impacting 16 residences and nine commercial establishments. Irish broadcaster RTÉ indicated that the water level reached approximately 1.2m (3ft 9in) at its peak. Gráinne Cafferty, a local business owner, stated that residents are “hurt and so annoyed” due to recurring flooding issues in the locality. She added that inquiries are now being made and a substantial amount of money, an “awful lot of money,” will be required for the restoration of homes and businesses. Irish Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke announced that he is pursuing “urgent” governmental approval to reactivate an emergency flooding scheme designed to assist businesses affected by Storm Bert.