Press release
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence thanks over 100 Civil Defence Volunteers and Defence Forces members deployed during Storm Babet
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, has thanked Civil Defence volunteers and Defence Forces members deployed to towns and villages impacted by flooding during Storm Babet.
Considerable assistance has been provided in flood-impacted areas during the last 24 hours.
Three units of the Cork Civil Defence - Cork City, Cork North and East, Cork West - were mobilised to assist with flood relief operations in the Blackpool, Glanmire and Midleton areas.
Volunteers operated on the ground, some throughout the night, with crews assisting with pumping, sand-bagging, transport of evacuees, setting up rest centres and general assistance to homeowners and businesses.
Along with playing a key role in evacuation efforts, Defence Forces personnel also provided emergency transport of nurses to and from Mercy Hospital in Cork on Wednesday night and deployed engineers to pump out water from Midleton Hospital on Thursday morning.
The Tánaiste said:
"My thoughts are with the households and businesses affected by the fierce flooding on Wednesday across County Cork, Cork City and west Waterford. It is a very distressing time for many people.
“I want to thank the Civil Defence volunteers and Defence Forces members who have provided essential assistance in flood relief efforts - working long hours in very challenging conditions to help those affected by the terrible flooding. It is important to also recognise the companies and businesses who have freed up the volunteers from their day jobs to provide this emergency assistance.
“The significant investment made by the Department of Defence in professional training was key to the state response to this incident.”
In total, approximately 50 Civil Defence Volunteers were deployed to Cork North & East, 16 to Cork West and 11 to Glanmire and Blackpool.
The Defence Forces have also provided transport and engineering support to assist in flood relief efforts in Cork, in an Aid to the Civil Authority capacity.
Six Defence Forces personnel and three vehicles deployed to Midleton from early yesterday afternoon in order to assist with the movement of people.
An additional ten Defence Forces personnel and two flat-bottomed boats were subsequently deployed to Midleton to assist in evacuation efforts.
Six personnel and two vehicles deployed to Glanmire yesterday evening where the Defence Forces distributed sandbags and assisted in the evacuation of residents.
The Defence Forces provided two personnel and two vehicles who assisted in the emergency transport of nurses to and from Mercy Hospital in Cork last night.
Defence Forces engineers were deployed to pump out water from Midleton Hospital this morning.