Two Local Authorities Issue Update On Rising Water Levels

Director of Services Barry Kehoe is worried about rural areas more than towns.

Westmeath County Council is concerned about impact of rising river levels on rural areas.

That's according to the Director of Services, after a comprehensive meeting of the affected agencies this lunchtime.

Barry Kehoe says Athlone town isn't a major concern as the permanent and temporary defences in place are capable of dealing with the five centimetre rise in the Shannon last night.

The Defence Forces have also stepped in to aid with the response.

Mr. Kehoe says the flooding is posing a major difficulty for more rural areas:

Westmeath County Council statement in full:

Water levels in the River Shannon are continuing to rise slowly and increased by 5cm overnight.

The Council is in receipt of an ESB forecast of river levels for the next 4 days and this is indicating that the River Shannon in Athlone will continue to rise up to Friday 29 February 2020. The highest predicted level is 39.35mOD, which is approximately 20cm above current levels.

Westmeath County Council has activated its Flood Emergency Response Plan and a meeting of the Interagency Response Committee was held today at 11am. At today’s meeting, chaired by Westmeath County Council and attended by representatives of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Irish Water, HSE, Civil Defence and the Department of Social Protection, it was agreed that the agencies would continue to protect public infrastructure, assist people to protect their homes and businesses, and to provide other humanitarian assistance.

Elsewhere, Offaly County Council have also issued an update this lunchtime via Facebook advising of a number of road closures and further planning for further wet conditions. 

Pauline Jones is visiting her parents house in Banagher today which was flooded in 2009 and 2015.

She says the situation is becoming increasingly frightening:

Jonathan O'Meara from Mid Ireland Adventure in Banagher has been speaking with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show: 

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