Zwaar onweer treft Belfast
Noord-Ierland is dinsdag getroffen door zware onweersbuien. Daarbij zijn op uitgebreide schaal overstromingen ontstaan.

In de middag tussen 13.30 en 15.00 uur werd de regio van Belfast getroffen door wat sommigen omschrijven als de “zwaarste onweersbui sinds mensenheugenis". Na afloop stond het regenwater 25 centimeter hoog in de straat. De hoogste neerslagsom die werd gemeld bedroeg 53,4 millimeter. De chaos door overstromingen hield enkele uren aan.

Onweer komt in Noord-Ierland op zo’n 5 tot 6 dagen per jaar voor. Vaak gaat het dan nog om een enkele klap tijdens een actieve bui in de winter. Zie ook dit kaartje met de verdeling van onweer over Europa.

_{©vwkweb.nl}

Warning of more heavy rain on the way
Ministers meet to discuss action plan
_{Wednesday, June 13, 2007}

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Motorists battle through the floods in east Belfast

Severe weather warnings were expected to be issued again today as clean-up operations were taking place after floods caused havoc across the province.

The Met Office said that while the rainfall will not be as heavy as yesterday, most parts of the province will experience persistent rain as the day progresses.

There were fears that further rainfall will exacerbate the problems experienced yesterday which caused the evacuation of homes, businesses and schools and heavy flooding of roads across Northern Ireland.

Stuart Brooks, forecaster at the Met Office in Aberdeen, said: "The wet weather is expected to continue through the week with rain on Thursday and Friday and some of the hills could end up with more than three inches of rain.

"It is more than likely that there will be a severe weather warning issued to cover the next few days."

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People take refuge at a local store before help arrives

Householders, businesses, insurance companies and the Government have been left counting the cost of the freak storm.

Some schools remain closed today, residents at a Belfast nursing home have been forced to reside with relatives, and businesses - including Connswater Shopping Centre in east Belfast and Dunnes Stores in south Belfast - are cleaning up after the buildings were flooded.

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_{Drivers battle through the heavy rain in Belfast which caused chaos around Northern Ireland}

Belfast City Centre cleansing squads took to the streets from early morning to clear mud and debris left by the flooding.

At the height of the emergency yesterday the Fire Brigade answered 362 calls in four hours, and the Water Service emergency line took 2,000 calls. Major emergency incident teams were set up in Belfast and Omagh.

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A girl in Bloomfield Avenue makes a splash in the flood

Thirteen Red Cross volunteers assisted the emergency services in caring for the vulnerable people evacuated from their homes in Belfast.

Volunteers assisted the social services in comforting and assisting evacuees at Avoniel Leisure Centre, while the Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Vehicle attended a number of incidents, offering food to fire fighters as well as tea, emotional support and advice to victims.

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These men in a boat cruise along despite the atrocious downpours in Belfast yesterday

Dr David McNair from the Red Cross said: "Our volunteers are committed to caring for people affected by major incidents and I would like to thank them for their tireless work in providing practical and emotional support to those affected by the flooding yesterday."

A community assistance centre operated by Belfast City Council out of Avoniel Leisure Centre was reopened this morning. Last night 13 people registered at the centre and overnight accommodation was found for them.

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A brolly fails to keep this man dry as he walks in the floodwaters

Hot food was being provided today by the Salvation Army Citadel on Belfast's Cregagh Road for residents left without power.

As Government agencies were criticised for their responses to the flooding, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minster was meeting with the ministers for Finance, Regional Development, Social Development and the Environment to discuss an action plan to deal with the situation and future emergency responses.

DUP's Jim Wells said: "No matter how much money you throw at these problems they're insolvable because of the low-lying nature of the land."

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Betty Gray is helped to safety by rescue workers in east Belfast
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Fire and rescue staff ferry three women to safety as widespread flooding caused havoc in Ladas Drive, east Belfast

Residents whose homes were damaged by the flooding have been advised to contact their insurance company immediately.

Those who require further advice on house clearance should go along to Avoniel Leisure Centre where representatives from the Housing Executive, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Fire Service and Belfast City Council officials will be present.

_{©Belfast Telegraph}

_{Thursday, June 14, 2007}

The clean-up for hundreds of Ulster residents affected by flash floods began yesterday amid government ministers pledging their commitment to the operation.

Nearly 40 people had to be rescued after a deluge of rain flooded Belfast and other towns across the province on Tuesday afternoon.

In Belfast, the council opened a rest centre at Avoniel Leisure Centre for residents whose homes were flooded and for those who were unable to make their way through the water.

Meanwhile, in Omagh, Northern Ireland Water set up an emergency incident team after streets were flooded and the vehicle licensing offices were forced to close.

After an emergency meeting at Stormont, ministers confirmed 22 people in Belfast and 15 in Omagh had to be rescued from homes and cars as firefighters dealt with 400 emergency calls.

Ministers agreed to look at concerns about how agencies responded to flooding in south and east Belfast, Co Tyrone, the north-west and Ballymena as two inches of rain fell in two hours.

Finance minister Peter Robinson also announced a ministerial statement will be made in the Assembly next week.

But he acknowledged that the two inches of rainfall was exceptional, placing the water and sewerage system in Belfast and other towns under pressure.

"These were exceptional circumstances," said the DUP MP, whose East Belfast constituency was badly affected.

"Clearly, there a number of areas as a constituency representative where I have heard from people about the inadequacy of some of the responses and those are the kind of issues we will look at where improvements can be made in the future."

The Executive also announced it will release emergency phone numbers to help people whose homes were damaged.

Water levels in east Belfast rivers were recorded at 2ft above their highest levels in 23 years.

While the rain had eased on Wednesday morning, the disruption continued - Strandtown Primary School in east Belfast remained closed, while the Knockmore Campus of Lisburn Institute will be closed for the rest of the week.

Mr Robinson said all agencies were on standby for more rain.

"All the emergency services... will remain on standby as long as the Met Office believes there is a potential for rain," he said.

"I have to point out to you the infrastructure we have in Northern Ireland is the same as the infrastructure elsewhere in the world.

"We cannot stop the rain coming. We cannot change overnight the infrastructure that is there, but there is a very considerable plan down to improve our infrastructure.

A Road Service spokesman also said that the service did all it could to deal with the situation.

He said: "We had over 20 crews out on the ground and had contractors on site. The amount of water that fell in a very short period overwhelmed the systems and they are just not designed to cope."

Regional Development minister Conor Murphy said he is planning to consult with the heads of the Water and Roads Service about their response and future plans.

_{©Belfast Telegraph}

£1k for each damaged home

Friday, June 15, 2007

Heavy rain is causing flooding in many parts of the province, particularly Co. Down.

The rain is continuing to pour with no respite expected until this evening and even more homes and streets are expected to be inundated.

Torrential rain, strong winds, blocked gullies, rising waters, abandoned cars, closed schools, flooded homes, sewage pouring through the streets.

Parts of north Down in particular were worst hit by today's rain following the dismal fate of east Belfast, Omagh and other parts of the North on Wednesday.

The flooding is worst Bangor, Ballynahinch, Newtownards and Comber and comes as councillors meet to discuss how to best use a £5m relief fund.

Severe flooding is reported along the Gransha Road near Bangor. Flooding is also being reported on the Portaferry Road outside Newtownards while in Ballynahinch, the Crossgar Road was waterlogged.

Roads passable with care include the Kempstone and Belfast roads between Comber and Dundonald as well as the Ballyblack and Crossnamuckley roads.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Arlene Foster announced an immediate payment of £1,000 for each household seriously damaged by Tuesday's flooding.

Mrs Foster said: "I have advised councils to complete their assessments of the most urgent needs over the weekend, and to make payments available from Monday.

"Many householders have already contacted their local councils but those who have not and consider they might be eligible should do so as soon as possible about flood damage to their homes".

_{©Belfast Telegraph}