Picture via Twitter
Up to 40 families were displaced last night when three local rivers in Mountmellick, Co. Laois flooded their banks, BreakingNews.ie reports.
The families went to hotels or stayed with relatives. Meanwhile, fire and rescue crews came in from Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath to assist with the unexpected amount of flooding.
According to the Independent.ie, it is believed that approximately 40mm of rain fell within 12 hours in Mountmellick, which proved too much for the local waterways to handle.
Teams assisting with the evacuation of people from their homes due to flooding in Mountmellick at the moment. pic.twitter.com/fw3AT4hdFN
— Laois Civil Defence (@LaoisCivilDefen) 22 November 2017
“There's three major rivers leading towards Mountmellick town; the Barrow, the Oweness and the Blackwater,” Padraig Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, said to BreakingNews.ie.
He continued, "This has been unprecedented rain that I don't believe we have experienced before and it came very fast."
Locals kept on enjoying their pints in Mountmellick’s Dowlings pub despite the several inches of water on the floor.
Only in Ireland. Bar floods and they're still suppingDowlings Pub Mountmellick, Co.Laois
— Deric Ó hArtagáinTV3 (@deric_hartigan) 22 November 2017
Insta @deric_tv3 #floods #ireland #sup pic.twitter.com/KNNHCS4KzR
“The last time we had a bad flood like this was 1990, previous to that was 1968,” pub owner Junior Dowling said to BreakingNews.ie.
“The river Oweness burst its bank and I suppose about six or seven inches of water came in through the back door of the bar. The best thing we can do now is open the front door, keep the place open and work away,” Junior said, assured that his regulars would not be phased by the downpour.
Families may be able to return home in 12 to 24 hours when the flood waters have subsided and people can drive safely on the roads.
However, Met Éireann has said that the country will experience 'widespread heavy & locally thundery showers for a time, some turning wintry' today.
Please stay safe out there!
