East Cork on high alert for flooding as yellow rainfall warning continues

The Carrigrohane Straight Road is also beginning to flood, the traffic lights at Anglers rest are out, and there is heavy surface water on the N40 South Ring Road, particularly westbound. 

The Dungourney to Midleton road is still closed, there is flooding by Copper Valley and Marwood in Glanmire, and surface water between Whitegate and Saleen.

Irish Rail confirmed that due to "weather-related damage" all services between Mallow and Charleville will see delays or alterations.

Cork County Council is monitoring the current weather warnings following “consistent and steady” rainfall overnight in the county.

Speaking on RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland, they said: “We are continuing to monitor our groundwater levels and river levels across the county and we are particularly conscious of higher tides later on this morning, so we have crews on the ground. 

"We have arrangements in place to deliver sandbags and so forth, if it comes to that."

At this point in time there does not seem to be any significant risk of property flooding, he added. 

“Certainly nothing like what we experienced last week. It's mainly flooding on the roads, standing water on the roads, things like that. That's our assessment of the situation right now.

“We're hopeful that it won't be an issue today and that there won't be anything in the way of any significant flooding. 

"There may be localised or the topping of the river bank in certain locations that might flood some roads, but we don't see any properties are at risk at this point in time, and that's a positive.”

The council also stressed that home and business owners across the county need to take all necessary steps to safeguard their property.

Speaking on local radio, Cork TD and Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney the community spirit as we’ve seen "has just been extraordinary".

He said the Government "will respond in a major way this week".

"I spoke to Heather Humphreys this morning, there have been over 100 payments made to individuals whose homes have been badly flooded – [the Community Welfare Officer (CWO) system] is a very flexible system to support people financially and to help them get back on their feet," Mr Coveney told RedFM.

Every circumstance is different — I met some of the owners in Midleton — some of them had four feet of water in their downstairs and kitchens/living rooms completely destroyed. White goods, TVs — one woman who had just bought her home, her dog drowned in the flood.

“That’s why the system is there, that’s why we have flexibility to be able to make payments. There’s no particular ceiling – this is up to the CWO to decide."

Mr Coveney said there are no caps on the supports and that the Government is "responding as the need develops".

The Irish Examiner reported on Sunday that business could get upwards of €70,000 in support from the Government, a figure Mr Coveney confirmed would go before Cabinet.

“The bottom line is that most businesses will want to know what level of financial support will be there for them. I’ll be bringing a proposal to Government tomorrow which I expect to get support for – we will be significantly upgrading the financial supports that would normally be available for a flood.

“I think it's likely that it will be upwards of €70,000 for businesses. We’re very conscious that this time of year is crucial for retailers and businesses in the run-up to Christmas – many will have lost huge volumes of stock to the flood so I think we need to be generous. We’ll go way beyond what was previously there."

However, Midleton Chamber of Commerce has warned that it will still not be enough for local businesses, some of which have incurred losses far in excess of that figure.

Local pharmacist Niamh Brosnan said that the amount of €5,000 to €20,000 mentioned under the humanitarian aid operated by the Red Cross was “nearly an insult” and even the estimated new limit of €70,000 was not enough to restore her premises.

“I've lost computers, all my floors, all my units and my shelving, they're all wafting and swelling. Fire doors will have to be replaced. Ordinary doors, just the floor alone will be tens of thousands. Not to mind fixing the units. And then the exterior of my shop is actually chunks of timber that have been carried off in the water.

Personally I can’t see €70,000 even covering all of that. 

"We have no flood insurance at all just because we're in Midleton. And even with the bad flooding seven or eight years ago and that was horrific flooding then, it didn't come near us and I would have been pretty confident that we were okay. By God, was I wrong.” 

When asked if she was worried about it happening again, Ms Brosnan replied: "I haven't stopped worrying since Wednesday, to be honest. I have CCTV in the shop and I spend every night worrying about the shop and wondering is it coming again?" 

She said she had been physically exhausted from the clean up but was also mentally exhausted from the worry and trying to manage everything to get open again.

East Cork Councillor, Susan McCarthy says sandbags given to locals in Midleton did not stop the water the last time.

"Unfortunately, from what we've seen, the impact of the sandbags last week just wasn't effective enough.

The flow was too strong, and the level of water rose too high too fast, not even the floodgates work," she said. 

Cork is currently under a status yellow rain warning until 6pm, along with counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, and Mayo.

Met Éireann has warned that rain will be "heavy at times" and there will also be a "chance of thunder".

Possible impacts may include localised flooding, and difficult travelling conditions.

Elsewhere, counties Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford are under a status orange rain warning.

This warning came into effect at 4am on Monday and is valid until 1am on Tuesday.

Met Éireann says there will be "heavy and persistent rain with thundery downpours" and has warned motorists of flooding, dangerous travel conditions, and poor visibility.

In Waterford, several areas of the county are flooded and impassable at the moment, including:

• L4076-41 Road Closed at Fairybush to Woodstown 
• Flooding on Dunmore Road R684 at Hickey’s Cross and at Knockboy (near River Cottage) 
• Flooding in Ferrybank at the bottom of the Rockshire Road 
• Heavy surface water on the Cork Road in Waterford city, from the RSC to Whitfield roundabout 
• Flooding at Lisduggan and at Morris’ DIY on inner Cork Road 
• L4082 – flooding at Faithlegg Church 
• L4082 – flooding at Jack Meade’s pub

The Council's ground crews and Waterford Fire Services have been deployed to multiple sites and are dealing with issues caused by surface water flooding.

In a statement, the council advised the public to "exercise caution as driving conditions may be hazardous."

"Motorists are reminded to be conscious of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists," the statement said.

Counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow and Roscommon are also under a status yellow rain warning until 1am on Tuesday.

Both heavy rain, and possibly thunder, have been forecast there as well.