The army has been called in to assist with the clean-up operation in Mountmellick following unprecedented flooding in the town yesterday and last night.
Twenty army personnel have been deployed in Mountmellick to assist the efforts of Laois County Council, Laois Fire & Rescue Service and Laois Civil Defence.
The Department of Social Protection has announced humanitarian aid for people in Laois and Offaly affected by flooding in the last 48 hours.
It confirmed via Twitter today: “the Government’s Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to assist people in Laois and Offaly whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and some structural repairs.”
Humanitarian
A humanitarian aid and support centre has been set up in Wolfe Tone Court near the worst hit areas including Manor Court and Manor Grove.
Laois County Council director of services Kieran Kehoe said the water levels are still high but are not rising at yesterday’s extreme levels of 2 metres in 12 hours.
“We still have a serious situation in Mountmellick. There is still substantial flooding in properties in and around the town,” he said on Midlands 103 radio this morning.
Pumped
Water was being pumped from properties from early this morning.
Sandbags remain in place around the town as the town comes to terms with flooding on a scale which has not been seen in decades.
Staff from the county council and the Department of Social Protection were on hand from 9am to help those affected.
Over twenty homes were evacuated in Mountmellick last night after the River Owenass burst its banks following torrential rain in the Slieve Blooms.
Emergency services assisting Laois communities in flood catastrophe. Dial 999 for specific assistance. Ministers @MurphyEoghan Boxer Moran & myself have met to devise package for flood victims. pic.twitter.com/C4WxJYC7ku
— Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) 22 November 2017
Fire crews from Westmeath, Offaly and Longford supplement the efforts of their colleagues in Laois.
Motorists are advised to avoid the town as a number of areas are still flooded, with the Irishtown area, on the main Mountmellick to Portlaoise N80 road currently closed.
SEE ALSO – Weather hits hospital campaign as Mountmellick meeting is postponed
