The aftermath of Storm Bert has left a profound impact on several communities in Northern Ireland, particularly in the counties of Down and Tyrone. After hours of torrential rain, residents are grappling with the aftermath as their homes were flooded, with an estimated 18 properties and numerous vehicles damaged in Park Avenue, Dundonald. Flooding became apparent on that fateful Saturday, forcing residents to confront the daunting reality of returning home to evaluate the damage incurred. Frustration looms among these individuals, especially as many had previously voiced concerns about the potential for flooding in their area to both Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).
By the time residents were allowed to assess their properties, the damage had already been done, and many expressed dissatisfaction with the response time of local authorities. As NI Water and DfI were approached for comments, the growing sense of urgency and frustration among residents was palpable. According to Melissa McComb, who experienced flooding in her own home, efforts to alert officials about the flooding situation were met with delayed response. Despite contacting DfI’s flooding incident helpline by 07:30 GMT, no assistance had arrived by 09:00 GMT, even as the water levels began to rise alarmingly.
Mrs. McComb recalled the harrowing moment when water surged up through a nearby manhole, signaling the impending disaster. Her efforts to protect her property with sandbags proved futile as circumstances rapidly escalated. Unfortunately, her husband was trapped inside the house until 14:00, unable to escape the flooding that encroached upon their home. Residents like Mrs. McComb subsequent expressed a belief that earlier intervention by the Department for Infrastructure could have mitigated some of the subsequent damage.
This incident is not the first to highlight the vulnerability of the Park Avenue area to flooding. There have been ongoing concerns raised by residents over the past year. Mrs. McComb articulated the frustrations felt by many, emphasizing that previous warnings seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. She noted a letter suggesting that work had been carried out to address drainage issues dated a year prior, yet residents were left to contend with the realities of flooding, which now rendered them without homes.
Samantha Burns, a local councillor, affirmed that this incident marked a significant escalation, as it was the first instance where floodwaters breached residential properties in the area. She acknowledged prior issues with blocked pipes and manholes, yet the recurrence of such flooding suggested that remedial measures had not been effective. Ms. Burns expressed hopefulness that the local authorities would take definitive action to provide support to affected residents and safeguard them from future flooding incidents.
Among the residents affected was Mehdi Mozadeh, who had only recently moved into his Park Avenue home with his wife and two young children just three months prior. The flooding destroyed their possessions and caused significant disruption in their lives. Mr. Mozadeh articulated the overwhelming uncertainty they faced, exclaiming he had “no idea where [they were] going to stay.” On the day of flooding, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons activated an emergency payment scheme allowing affected residents to claim £1,000 through their local councils, a small solace in a time of turmoil. Mr. Mozadeh, however, lamented about lacking immediate support since the flooding incident.
Notably, residents were not the only ones affected. Storm Bert also wreaked havoc on transportation systems, causing rail delays and cancellations and delivering powerful winds with speeds exceeding 67mph in places like Ballypatrick, County Antrim. The storm’s impact extended across the border, where Ireland also faced warnings of high winds and heavy rain, leading to significant flooding.
In summary, the wake of Storm Bert has underscored the urgent need for effective infrastructural responses to flooding, as communities continue to bear the brunt of increasingly severe weather conditions. Both local authorities and residents are eager for a proactive approach to flood prevention to ensure that devastating events like this do not repeat, leaving families in turmoil and without homes.
