Latest news with #Babet
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
'Constantly watching the forecasts is exhausting and it is no way for a family to live'
A Cork father whose home was destroyed by flooding said the constant threat of rising rainfall was negatively impacting his mental health. Alan Mahy is now constantly monitoring the weather forecasts and wants Met Éireann to issue flood warnings as well as wind and rain warnings in forecasts. His call comes after the release of the first ever national climate change risk assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency, which says the country is facing "immediate critical risks from extreme weather events" In recent months, the father of four girls had to erect flood gates outside his home while celebrations were ongoing inside for his daughter's seventh birthday. When Alan and his wife Orla moved to a detached home in Midleton in December 2021, they thought they had found their dream home, until Storm Babet hit in October 2023. "I've become an unwilling amateur expert now at reading the river and river gauges," he said. Before Babet, "I was on holidays when my neighbour rang to say that the river level was now higher than the bridge used by 11 homes on the lane. The same bridge collapsed under the force of the flood. Water was already in our home at this point, and it was too late to do anything. Alan Mahy's house flooded during Storm Babet. "Eighteen months after the flood, if water gets to our driveway, others know to start panicking. "We are now the flood warning system for Midleton." The family home was destroyed, with the ground floor under more than 3ft of water, and the house was under-insured for what they lost. The kids' toys, floors, kitchen units, sofas, everything you can imagine was destroyed and we had to rent somewhere to live for almost four months while repairs were being carried out. Early interim flood measures have been put in place by the local authorities, but Mr Mahy believes it could take up to a decade to fully implement the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme. "About 1,600 tonnes of gravel and stones that were raising the river levels were removed by the local council outside our home and we are very grateful for that. "In other parts of Midleton, there have been temporary flood defences put in place, in the form of large sandbags along the riverbank. "But I firmly believe there should be a flood warning system like they have in the UK and other countries. "A yellow rain alert might not seem a lot but if it is on top of days and days of rainfall, then that yellow rain alert might be all that is needed to send the river into flood and threaten my home." Mr Mahy says the constant watching of rainfall measures has affected his mental health. We are trying to put on a brave face for our daughters. Every time there is heavy rain, they are asking if the house is going to be flooded again. "It is obviously on their minds as well and during the birthday party, I took the precaution of putting up sandbags and flood gates because I was worried about the heavy rainfall after four days of rain. Alan Mahy's possessions were destroyed when his house flooded. "Unfortunately, my prediction was right, the heavy rainfall over the previous week meant the river was too high to cope with the yellow warning for rainfall. "In actual fact, the rain that fell that night wasn't too much, but it was enough to raise the river level above the river bank. The county council came to our aid with sandbags. "When the river breaks the banks and comes up the driveway, I have to move the cars to higher ground and be on alert all the time. We feel embattled in our own home. "Carlow Weather as far as I'm concerned was the only forecaster to correctly predict how bad Babet would be. A few days in advance of Babet, he was warning East Cork for risk of bad floods — he was correct and yet there were no actions taken by the authorities to prepare for the worst. "Constantly watching the forecasts and monitoring the river levels is just exhausting and it is no way for a family to live." Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has been consistent in his calls for a flood alert system in the country. In his latest email to Government ministers in January he said: "We are going to see more extreme weather in the coming years, especially flooding and we still have no flood warning system or any real dedicated resources for weather event responses. "We need far more weather stations recording data, especially rainfall data in the upland areas that feed the rivers." Measures he has outlined include flood response teams, as well as groups trained to assist ESB networks with power restoration in terms of clearing roads and trees and replacing poles. He also called for military drones to be deployed after storms to map flooded areas, fallen power lines and blocked roads and feed information to local authorities, and a dedicated national weather emergency app for real-time alerts and information on power outages, emergency hubs and road closures. In a statement, Cork County Council said: "Regarding flood warnings, Cork County Council relies on Met Éireann forecasts and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). Locally, information received from Met Éireann and NDFEM is augmented by river gauge trends and reports from area engineers and considered by Cork County Council's Severe Weather Assessment Team. The Severe Weather Assessment Team convenes as soon as a significant risk of severe weather becomes apparent and meets regularly thereafter at least until the risk has abated. The team advises and coordinates the relevant sections within Cork County Council regarding risk and response, including press releases and social media posts to help keep citizens informed.
The Courier
7 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Angus North and Mearns Tory hopeful plots challenge to SNP dominance
Conservative Holyrood hopeful Tess White says she is confident she can challenge the SNP's dominance in Angus North and Mearns, even as her party struggles in the polls. The current list MSP for the North East Scotland parliamentary region has been picked to represent the party in her home constituency – currently represented by the SNP's Mairi Gougeon. But she will face an uphill battle in what is one of the safer SNP seats. The nationalists secured over 48% of the vote at the last election with Ms Gougeon – who announced she is standing down next year – handed a majority of over 3,500. Speaking to The Courier, Ms White set out her vision and explained how she plans to win round voters. Key in her pitch to voters will be highlighting what she describes as SNP neglect. 'A lot of what has happened here, in Angus North and Mearns, would be considered a scandal if it happened in the central belt,' Ms White said. 'Part of the issue is Mairi Gougeon is noticeable by her absence. One of the issues, the massive concerns about the overhead pylons across the prime agricultural land. It's huge. 'That is a huge threat to the north-east and it's only just starting to filter through.' Another priority Ms White identifies is Brechin, which she says was 'abandoned' after Storm Babet. 'I demanded action,' she says. 'I wanted to make sure they had financial support. 'If this had happened in the central belt it would have been a scandal, because 1,000 people were forced to leave their homes when the 2016 flood defences failed. 'They didn't do a proper job and were surprised when they failed. The bill now could top £500 million. The houses still need to be rebuilt, we've lost key employers, and basically the grants that were given were absolutely disgraceful.' She added: 'And Montrose is falling into the sea. Seven meters were lost during Babet and Gerrit. There's a six year flood strategy, but Angus only got £440,000 for Montrose. That is shocking.' The Holyrood hopeful also wants to focus on local healthcare issues. 'The decade of decline. You've got local healthcare and policing issues. Whether its Montrose – the huge issue we have with GP practice and the minor injury unit that was closed down,' she said. Finally she also wants to tackle the scourge of violence in local schools, highlighting the recent case where a pupil was caught with a knife. The incident occurred on Friday May 16, at Laurencekirk School. A boy, aged 12, has been charged. But it won't just be the SNP Ms White is battling. Polling suggests her party will be the big losers to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which is targeting the north-east in its bid to win seats in the Scottish Parliament. Asked why voters should choose her over Reform, Ms White said: 'Nigel Farage wants to slash funding for our NHS, schools, roads and many other essential services which would hit hard-working Scots with a double whammy of spending cuts and tax hikes.' As well as Ms White, the SNP has confirmed Stonehaven councillor Dawn Black will represent the party in Angus North and Mearns. Other parties are yet to announce their candidates.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
'Reckless' M4 driver jailed after causing deaths of mum and daughter
A man has been jailed after his "reckless" speeding during a storm led to the deaths of a mother and Woods, 61, and Sarha Smith, 40, of Caerphilly, stopped on the hard shoulder of the M4 in Wiltshire following a minor collision with a highways vehicle on 20 October 2023. Moments later, Firas Zeineddine crashed into a HGV while driving at speeds of more than lorry then fell on top of Ms Woods and Ms Smith's car. The two women were declared dead at the 46, of Bluebell Drive, Keynsham, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of death by careless driving, and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Storm Babet brought heavy rain and strong wind when it hit the UK in October Woods and Ms Smith were on the hard shoulder following a minor crash with a National Highways vehicle on the M4 eastbound near junction 14 for who was driving a Tesla Model Y, aquaplaned while speeding in the outside lane and then overcorrected his steering, colliding with a HGV in lane lorry narrowly missed a highways officer, but hit Ms Woods and Ms Smith's Volkswagen T-Roc. Det Con Sean Williams, from Wiltshire Police's serious collision investigation team, said Zeineddine's speeding in adverse weather conditions was "completely reckless"."I'm pleased he has pleaded guilty which has prevented the victims' family from having to relive the details through a trial," Det Con Williams said."Cheryl and Sarha's deaths sadly provide a clear illustration of why it is vital to drive to the conditions, no matter where you are."Any mistake or unforeseen incident, particularly at the speeds Zeineddine was driving, can have fatal consequences." Huge 'void' Ms Woods and Ms Smith's family previously issued a statement saying Ms Woods was "cherished by those in her life, and fulfilled the roles of a loving mother, doting grandmother, cherished sister, and a dear friend"."Her selflessness was a defining trait, consistently prioritising her family's well-being over her own, and she took immense pride in her Welsh heritage while nurturing a deep love for nature."Sarha Smith, in the footsteps of her mother, unselfishly devoted herself to her family's needs ahead of her own."She was not only a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, but her absence leaves a void for those who relied on her radiant presence," they said.
