Widespread chaos caused by floods
Thursday, 21 August 2008
The refurbished Tobermore Utd pitch immersed in flood water when the Moyola River overflowed this past weekend.
MANY local homes and businesses were left counting the cost of this weekends widespread flooding. Torrential rainfall across Northern Ireland saw many rivers bursting their banks, landslides and roads cut off.
Police also said two bridges had collapsed and 37 major roads were shut down, including part of the M1 motorway, and a train had derailed.
NI Water said its resources had been 'overwhelmed' by the deluge.
Portglenone in County Antrim recieved 62mm of rain in 12 hours, while Tobermore United were dealt a devastating blow when their newly refurbished pitch and grounds were flooded under five foot of water. Also near Tobermore, cattle and sheep were washed away and farmers used trailers to rescue people from the flooding River Moyola, with several houses flooded.
Other areas to feel the affects of flooding included the Ballygawley Road and Cookstown. A lot of those caught up in the deluge became isolated and as a result many community centres, including Watty Grahams GAA club, Maghera, opened their doors to shelter those affected.
A Tobermore United club spokesman said, "It's just unbelievable what has happened, everything is under water. We won't know the full extent of the damage until the water recedes but it doesn't look good. Everything in the changing rooms clubrooms and pitch is under dirty flood water so the chances of saving anything must be slim.
“We have just spent thousands of pounds refurbishing the pitch which I'm sure will now need to be redone.
“We had a team of volunteers in on Sunday trying everything to let the water away but it was a hopeless task. We will know better where we stand when the water goes and we can get the damage surveyed but it's just something we didn't need"
SDLP Mid Ulster Assembly Member Patsy McGlone has expressed his concern about the weekend flooding.
He said, "I have visited residents and farmers in the South Derry area who have had to move out of their properties. Thousands of pounds of damage has been done to houses after the Moyola river burst its banks. Many farmers have lost cattle and sheep in the floods. Rivers Agency and DRD need to take action to reduce the negative impact of any further heavy rain. The river banks need to be reinforced and gullies and drainage in the area need to be reviewed. All those affected by these floods need help and support from Government and need a quick response from the various agencies."
