National Emergency Coordination Group preparing for risk of further flooding in the wake of Storm Chandra

• Public warned to be vigilant over coming days
• Government continuing to respond to existing flooding with supports available for those impacted

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) and the Humanitarian Subgroup met again today (Thursday) as the work to alleviate flooding and clean-up in its aftermath continues in areas affected by Storm Chandra.

The NECG will continue to meet and the coordinated response will continue over the bank holiday weekend.

The NECG and response agencies will be closely monitoring the situation and preparing for the risk of further flooding over the coming days.

Risk of further flooding

More heavy rain is forecast over the next few days and localised flooding will continue to be a risk due to saturated ground conditions and high river levels. The east, north-east and south-east of the country remain particularly at risk.

The public should be aware that situations can change very quickly and even small amounts of rain could result in significant impacts in areas where river levels are high and/or where the ground is already saturated.

Local response teams are monitoring the ongoing situation very closely, ensuring resources are in place and crews are on standby, and preparing necessary interventions.

People are urged to monitor Met Éireann weather updates and check local authority websites and social media channels for information on road closures, flooding updates, and community alerts.

Disruption to essential services is likely over the coming days. Severe weather and flooding may impact transport services and the public is advised to always check with operators before their journey.

Supports available

An Emergency Response Payment is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by flooding. Community Welfare Officers are active on the ground in affected areas to support the humanitarian response. Full details of the Department of Social Protection's scheme and how to apply are available at gove.ie/StormResponse.

An Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations affected by Storm Chandra flooding is open. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is working with local authorities and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to identify those in need of support. The Scheme is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department and full details and application forms are available at https://www.redcross.ie/stormchandra/

Public safety advice

The NECG is urging the public to be vigilant over the coming days as flooding persists in some areas and further flooding is possible.

• Monitor Met Éireann forecasts - conditions may change quickly. Visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is also available across the Met Éireann App, social media platforms (@meteireann) and other news media sources.
• Check local authority websites and social media channels for information on road closures, flooding updates, and community alerts.
• Allow for disruption when travelling. Plan extra travel time and reduce speed.
• Expect surface water, debris and poor visibility.
• Do not bypass Road Closed signs – the road ahead is unsafe, the damage may be hidden beneath water, and you may be putting your life at risk.
• Do not drive through floodwater – turn back and use another route.
• Check with Transport Operators when planning journeys
• Stay back from riverbanks, streams and canals – water levels may rise quickly.
• Keep children and pets away from waterways and flooded areas.
• Keep away from coastal edges, harbours, piers and low-lying promenades during high tide.
• The Irish Coast Guard advice remains: “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.”
• Check in with neighbours, older people or anyone who may need assistance in case conditions worsen.

Up to date information on the response to Storm Chandra is available at gov.ie/StormResponse

ENDS

Information on the Emergency Response Payment

The Emergency Response Payment (formerly the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme) is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by flooding.

The scheme is open in Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Louth and Monaghan following severe weather conditions.

The Emergency Response Payment prevents hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are unable to meet emergency costs for essential needs, household items and structural repair.

The scheme does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event, nor does it cover damage or losses that are insured under home insurance policies or would reasonably be expected to have been covered by an insurance policy. It is available as a support for households which experience unanticipated and exceptional costs in the immediate aftermath of an extreme weather event. The Emergency Response Payment does not cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.

In administering the Emergency Response Payment and dealing with emergency events, the Department of Social Protection generally adopts a three-stage approach as follows:

• Stage 1 of the scheme is to address hardship in the immediate aftermath of emergency events and provides emergency support payments to cover immediate and essential costs such as the purchase of food, clothing, bedding and essential personal items for immediate use and is not income tested. This support will be available from today until Wednesday, 04/02/2026. It does not cover the purchase of replacement food or other items. – See stage 2.
• Stage 2 involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items where there is a valid reason why these were not covered by insurance and where the person can demonstrate that it is essential that the items are replaced and that they do not have the financial resources to cover these costs themselves.
• Stage 3 covers costs of essential structural repairs to a person’s primary residence where the person does not have the resources to cover the costs involved. The type of repairs includes plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting. These costs are only covered if they are essential, result directly from damage caused by the emergency event and there are valid reasons as to why household insurance was not in place. All costs are subject to expert assessment by a loss adjuster.

While Stage 1 is not income tested, income testing does apply to Stages 2 and 3 of the scheme. However, it is important to note that the income test for the Emergency Response Payment is more generous than that applied under means-tested social welfare payments in general.

Reduced or tapered level of support may be provided in cases where a household’s income is above the limits. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance, which includes non-Social Welfare recipients.

The scheme does not cover:

• commercial, agricultural, or business losses.
• losses covered by an insurance policy or which could reasonably be expected to have been covered by an insurance policy.
• loss of items deemed to be inessential or luxury items.
• structural loss or damage to rented accommodation.
• any additional properties that are not occupied and lived in as the primary residence.
• repair or replacement of motor vehicles.

Levels of payment under the scheme depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs from their own resources.

This ensures that the funding is appropriately targeted.

If any homeowner affected by severe weather needs to access these supports, they can contact the Community Welfare Service by phoning 0818 60 70 80. Further information on the Emergency Response Payment is available at gove.ie/StormResponse.

Information on the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for Businesses, Community, Voluntary and Sports Organisations

The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme for small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations that have suffered flood-damage is administered by The Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

The scheme provides support to small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations who through no fault of their own, have been unable to obtain flood insurance.

It provides a contribution towards the costs of returning a premises to its pre-flood condition. This can include replacing flooring, fixtures and fittings, and damaged stock if relevant. The scheme is specifically targeted to help small businesses of up to 20 employees (or wholetime equivalents), and community, voluntary and sports organisations, and has two payment stages:

1. The first stage will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of the damages incurred, with a focus on getting funding to the small business/organisation as quickly as possible.
2. In the event that a premises has incurred significant damages above €5,000, businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations may apply for additional financial support. In this case, a Building Assessment will be organised through the Irish Red Cross. The total level of support available for both stages is capped at €20,000.

More information and application forms for support are available at https://www.redcross.ie/stormchandra/