Update (16:15): Water levels in the Burren and Barrow rivers remain extremely high but have stopped rising for now. Carlow County Council is continuing to monitor water levels and will issue further updates if required. Response crews remain on full alert. Carlow County Councils CEO Coilin O’Reilly is thanking council staff in Municipal Districts, and the Fire Service for their continued dedication in this difficult time for the county.
Those living along the River Burren in areas prone to flooding are being advised to move any valuables to upper levels and to be prepared as the river reaches near record high levels.
Carlow County Council says they are doing everything they can but the Burren is approaching record levels and rising with more rain on the way.
CEO of Carlow County Council says the situation continues to be very difficult…
“The highest ever level recorded on the Burren is 2.16. We were at 2.148 this morning at 8am. It appears to have levelled off now but yet again we just don’t know where it’s going to go. We’ve issued a warning to people early this morning and we’ve asked people who have previously flooded along the Burren area to just move items to higher ground and just be prepared.”
“We’re continuing to monitor and we have people on site, we have pumps on site, we have sandbags on site but it’s very difficult. It’s kind of a half hour to half hour basis to see where the river is going to go.”
He says you should remain vigilant throughout the day as there will a delay effect as water makes its way down from the mountain…
“It might be sunny later on this afternoon, but the water that has fallen on the Blackstairs this morning could be still making its way into Carlow and that’s the difficulty we’re in. As it’s standing now, it looks to have leveled off, but we don’t know where to go.”
“So our advice remains the same as this morning, I suppose, that people really, really need to start moving valuable items to higher ground and be prepared if they have flooded. So we’re probably talking about Millrace, Springfield and down around Pembroke and places like that.”
