Prolonged weather event results in damage to Waterford road network
The Status Orange rainfall warning has expired for Waterford, however, Waterford City and County Council is advising that there has been significant damage to the road network due to persistent and sustained rainfall.
Waterford City and County Council’s severe weather management team convened this morning and continues to monitor the situation, while ground crews have been deployed to deal with road network issues throughout the city and county.
Gabriel Hynes, Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council said, “While the Status Orange rainfall warning is no longer in effect, the prolonged period of heavy and persistent rain, tidal surges and wave overtopping has resulted in significant damage to our road network. We would ask the public to bear with us as our teams assess and repair the network.
“We are advising motorists to continue to drive with caution as the road network has been compromised by heavy rainfall, river run-off and coastal flooding, and there may be debris, damage, and surface water on some roads.
“We would also remind drivers to avoid driving through flowing or standing water, expect the unexpected and be conscious of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.”
The period of unsettled weather was prolonged with a Status Yellow Rain and Wind warning coming into effect on January 27th, with the arrival of Storm Chandra, followed by sustained rainfall for almost two weeks.
Throughout this period, Waterford City and County Council remained on standby to respond to a rapidly evolving weather event, including incidents of localised flooding, blocked drains and gully overflows.
Council ground crews, working alongside Waterford Fire Service, attended multiple flooding incidents on roads across the county and county and crews were also proactively deployed to vulnerable locations where reports had been received, including Gracedieu in Waterford City and Woodstown, in order to reduce the risk of flooding. These incidents required significant operational resources to manage safely and effectively.
As a precautionary measure, flood defence barriers were erected in Passage East and Waterford City. In addition, several car parks in Dungarvan identified as being at risk of flooding were closed overnight from Saturday January 30th until evening until Friday, February 6th. Sandbags were also made available to the public throughout the duration of the weather event.
A number of homes and businesses in Passage East experienced flooding as a result of the local stream overtopping its banks. This situation was further exacerbated by the severely reduced capacity of the drainage system, caused by a combination of prolonged heavy rainfall and already saturated ground conditions. As the situation escalated on the evening of January 30th, Council ground crews and Waterford Fire Service were deployed to Passage East. Teams provided sandbags and remained on site throughout the weekend, working alongside residents and business owners to pump water, mitigate damage, and assist with immediate clean-up efforts.
Sean McKeown, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council said, “While acknowledging the significant distress caused by flooding, the Council is committed to reviewing this event, identifying lessons learned and taking appropriate measures to reduce future risk. Waterford City and County Council has developed a proposal for a comprehensive upgrade of the stormwater drainage network in Passage East and is currently awaiting confirmation of a funding source to progress this project.”
Mr. McKeown added, “I would like to formally acknowledge the Council staff for their outstanding efforts during this highly disruptive and complex weather event. In particular, I commend the severe weather assessment team, ground crews, fire services, and corporate services staff for their tireless work, professionalism, and unwavering commitment throughout this challenging period. The dedication shown by staff in responding to the wide range of issues that arose during this multi-hazard event was truly exceptional and reflects a strong culture of service, teamwork, and resilience across the organisation.
“During the storm, dozens of weather-related incidents were reported across the city and county. Each of these incidents was responded to promptly and effectively by Council staff, often under difficult and rapidly changing conditions. Throughout the event, the Council ensured timely and accurate updates were provided to the community via our social media channels, along with important public safety messages. These coordinated efforts played a vital role in minimising impacts, supporting the community, and maintaining essential services during the storm.”
