After devastating floods struck Counties Down and Tyrone due to heavy rainfall from Storm Bert, residents are grappling with the aftermath. Approximately 18 homes, along with several vehicles in Park Avenue, Dundonald, suffered extensive damage on Saturday. Many affected individuals have expressed frustration over the inadequate response from local authorities, despite prior warnings about potential flooding in the area.
Local resident Melissa McComb woke up to find her street submerged in water. After reporting the situation to the Department for Infrastructure’s flooding helpline at 7:30 AM GMT, McComb was assured that help would arrive. However, by 9 AM, no officials had appeared, and conditions worsened.
McComb noted that as water began to overflow from a nearby manhole, she realized the severity of the situation. Despite her efforts to purchase sandbags for protection, she found herself unable to return home before the flooding reached critical levels.
While she managed to evacuate before the worst of it hit, her husband remained trapped inside until 2 PM. McComb criticized the delayed response from officials, suggesting that timely intervention might have mitigated the flooding.
Residents like McComb have been voicing their concerns about flooding risks for nearly a year. Yet, despite assurances of completed work on drainage issues from local councils, many feel abandoned by authorities.
Lisburn and Castlereagh councillor Samantha Burns acknowledged that this was the first instance of floodwaters breaching homes in the area. She expressed hope that ongoing problems would finally be addressed so families could return to their residences.
In light of the situation, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons activated an emergency payment scheme for those experiencing significant disruption due to flooding. Households impacted can claim a £1,000 payment through their local council. However, some residents like Mehdi Mozadeh reported receiving no support since Saturday’s crisis.
As Northern Ireland braces for ongoing weather challenges—including a yellow warning for high winds—the region continues to recover from Storm Bert’s impact. Areas across Northern Ireland recorded significant rainfall over the weekend; for example, Derrylin experienced 65.2mm, which represents 53% of November’s average rainfall in just two days.
Looking ahead, as recovery efforts continue and weather warnings remain in effect across both Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland, communities are left to ponder how local infrastructure can be improved to prevent future disasters of this magnitude.
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