2009 Press Releases
REPORT ON MAJOR FLOOD DAMAGE AT UCC
24.11.2009
On Thursday November 19th, after a prolonged period of rainfall, the River Lee burst its banks and flooded an extensive area of Cork City. The main impacts were felt in the western side of the city, from Washington Street to the Lee Fields.
24.11.2009
On Thursday November 19th, after a prolonged period of rainfall, the River Lee burst its banks and flooded an extensive area of Cork City. The main impacts were felt in the western side of the city, from Washington Street to the Lee Fields.
The event has been described as a 1:100 or 1:800-year flood event. The
dam at Inniscarra (8 miles from UCC) regulates the flow of water in the
river. The ESB are responsible for the operation of the dam and it
appears that they were forced to increase the release rate through the
dam on Thursday evening, which resulted in catastrophic flooding of the
city. The high tide at 9pm passed without incident but was quickly
followed by rising river levels which caused the river to burst its
banks and flood a large part of the city. River levels exceeded the
ground floor levels of the majority of buildings within the flood
fringe with resultant significant flooding to 29 UCC buildings. Some
30 of UCC’s 80 acres were submerged in flood water. 77,000m2 (c. 30%)
of our building stock was affected with 27,000m2 (c.13%) directly
damaged at basement and ground floor levels. Over 500 staff were impacted by the flood and c.2,000 students were forced to evacuate their student residences.
Report compiled by Mark Poland, Director of Building & Estates, UCC. Download the full Report on Major Flood Damage
Picture: Evacuating Students from Castlewhite Apartments
Report compiled by Mark Poland, Director of Building & Estates, UCC. Download the full Report on Major Flood Damage
Picture: Evacuating Students from Castlewhite Apartments