STORM IMPACT THE CLARE EXPERIENCE. Tom Tiernan SE, Clare Co Co Cyril Feeney SEE, Clare Co Co Overview 1.Inland Flooding – large scale in Ennis and South East Clare 2.Inland Flooding – lesser scale at various other locations 3.Wind Damage 4.Coastal Storm Damage Inland Flooding • Ennis – town centre flooding and several locations in environs – 1995, 1999 and 2009 • Coincidence of elevated river levels, high tide and South West wind • Approximately 80% resolved by relief schemes to date Inland Flooding 2 • South East Clare – extreme inundation in mostly rural area in Counties Clare and Limerick • Very elevated river Shannon forced to bypass Ardnacrusha – most recent extreme, 2009. • Future – depends on CFRAMS recommendations to emerge in 2015 Inland Flooding 3 • Smaller scale flooding issues in North and East Clare • Backup of overwhelmed subterranean systems- Karst Limestone Effect of Inland Flooding. • Roads become impassable in most cases • Resolution – Flood Relief Schemes, Drainage Schemes or Road Upgrade or various combinations of same • Some success in recent years in Clare Wind Damage • Coastal – public and private property – Dec/Jan/Feb of 2013/14 • Coastal and inland on Feb. 12th,2014 – public and private property including large scale tree damage. • Highest recorded gust in country in Shannon – almost 160km/hr – 1,000 trees lost. Tree Damage Climate Change Coastal Storm Damage • Weather pattern change in MidDecember, 2013 • Development of Extreme Low Pressure centres in Atlantic • Coincidence of high winds off low centres with associated ocean swells impacting directly onto coast at time when Spring Tide were peaking Storms • Coastal storms occurred on January 3rd and 6th and on February 1st • All in coincidence with extremely high tide in early morning • All exacerbated by ocean swell varying between 0.5 and 1m • Slight variation in wind direction resulting in different damage locations Severity • Damage at 35 public infrastructure locations along entire coastline in January • Devastation in private areas also eg Doonbeg Golf Club Nature of Damage • Demolition/undermining of sea walls • Resort facilities destroyed • Dune systems compromised or removed • Roads compromised or destroyed • 1000’s of tons of sea rubble and shingle thrown long distance inland • Examples to follow: New Quay New Quay • Over 3km of coast road damaged • Coastal defences found to be inadequate and need to be reinstated/strengthened • Total estimated cost of remediation: €3.8million Lehinch Lehinch • Rock armour defences destroyed over a distance of more than 1.5km • Promenade walls damaged/removed • Promenade undermined and pulverised by wave power • Damage to car parks, playground and a variety of other facilities • Total estimated cost of remediation: Cloughaninchy Cloughaninchy Cloughaninchy Cloughaninchy • Dune system obliterated or seriously eroded over a distance of 2.2km • Up to 20 houses / Road network left exposed to wrath of next Spring tide • Potential for Seafield Pier/ peninsula to be cut off permanently • Estimated cost: €5.2 million Kilkee Kilkee Kilkee • Several significant breaches in historic sea walls • Major wall destabilisation resulting in collapse of Strand Line • Destruction of extensive paved spaces, walkways and various other structures. • Estimated cost €1.3m Kilbaha Kilbaha Kilbaha Kilbaha • Total destruction and undermining of significant sections of sea wall • 150m of Regional road completely removed along with supporting sea wall – no road through village for 6 weeks • Total estimated cost of remediation: €3.5 million Works completed • Clean up at all 40 sites (twice in some cases) • Roads, tourism and harbour infrastructure restored to fulfil normal function • Additional restoration works carried out and ongoing at tourist resorts The Cost • Overall estimated damages: • January • February €27.2 million €10.9 million • TOTAL €38.1 million Cost Breakdown • Estimated damages by category: • Clean up €1.39 million • Roads €3.12 million • Tourism €2.04 million • Piers/Harbours €0.34 million • Coastal Restoration €13.06 million • Coastal Strengthen €14.27 million • Contingency Sum €2.9 million Funding • Confirmation of availability of €16.8 million to date based on January application • Application to strengthen coastal defences damaged in January €12.1 million – decision awaited • Application for funding to deal with February damage - €10.9 million – decision awaited Issues Issues to be considered to facilitate implementation of remediation: • Planning requirements • Environmental issues/designations • Prioritisation • Procurement of consultants • Procurement of works • Timescale and programme Main Issue Thank You