Cork City Council is repeating its call to city centre householders and businesses to ensure they have suitable defences in place tonight due to a significant flood risk tomorrow morning.
More than 500 leaflets were distributed to properties in the city centre yesterday to alert residents and businesses to the level 3 flood risk at 6.21am on Wednesday.
It is also warning motorists to plan early morning journeys as there will be city centre road closures from 5.30am to at least 7.30am on some, or all, of the following streets:
- South Mall
- South Terrace
- Union Quay
- Rutland Street
- Sawmill Street
- All of Morrison’s Island
- Lavitts Quay
- Sharmon Crawford Street
- Wandsford Quay
- Oliver Plunkett Street and all side streets from same
- Lower Glanmire Road
Motorists are also advised not to leave parked cars in the city centre overnight tonight. Cork City Council is working to ensure that the city centre is open for business from 9am.
Up to 100 staff from across the Council will be on site across the city centre from 5am tomorrow morning and will be supported by colleagues from Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork City Civil Defence and An Garda Siochana.
Up to 30 representatives from Cork City Council, Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork City Civil Defence, An Garda Siochana, the HSE and Bus Eireann attended an inter-agency planning meeting this morning after Cork City Council Flood Assessment Team were briefed by Met Eireann earlier in the day.
A tidal surge and strong south-easterly winds are forecast for Wednesday morning. These factors combined with the morning high tide have the potential to cause significant tidal flooding in the city centre.
Director of Operations, David Joyce said: “ Cork City Council is advising all householders and businesses to erect barriers this evening so that they are in place for the anticipated flooding tomorrow morning. It is predicted that the flooding could be similar to the event on October 20 last. It really is important that businesses take active measures to protect their premises so they can continue to trade later on Wednesday morning. We are also recommending that all deliveries are postponed until after 8am on Wednesday”.
Cork City Council will continue to issue regular updates on the tidal forecast to our Twitter (@corkcitycouncil) account as well as to the City Council’s website (www.corkcity.ie)