Care home saved from evacuation as Derg hit by worst flooding in 53 years

A CASTLEDERG nursing home came close to being evacuated amid torrential downpours late on Saturday evening.

However, thanks to the swift actions of emergency services and the local community, sandbags were deployed and water was pumped away, ensuring that an evacuation effort wasn't needed.

The shock rainfall, which caught the local area by surprise, saw Castlederg and the surrounding areas hardest hit, but widespread flooding and subsequent travel disruption was also caused in other areas of West Tyrone.

In Castlederg, heavy rainfall and early signs of flooding prompted a large-scale relief effort between emergency services and members of the community, with local farmers working early into the morning to pump water away with tractors and tankers.

Saturday's rainfall was the wettest 24-hour period in the town in 53 years, with an estimated that 72.6mm of rain falling between 9am on Saturday, July 22, to 9am the following morning. Many have said that the duration of the downpour of rain that occurred at the weekend was something that they had never before experienced.

Francis Dolan, a resident of Whiterock Park, Castlederg, said he started looking out for signs of flooding in his home as soon as the heavy rain started.

"The water was lapping up to the doorstep and rising, " he said. "I am disabled and my disability scooter would not do too well in the water. There was a good two foot of water in around my house and in the park. It was flowing like a river through the park.

"Thankfully someone smashed the fence in my garden which let a lot of the water away. The Fire Service and the local farmers were also great help as they came with tankers and pumps which helped to let the water away.

"Thankfully no water got into my house, but others in the park weren't so lucky. This isn't the first time we have been flooded, but this was the worst I have seen.

"Unfortunately it's going to happen again. The problem is the burn - it needs to be cleaned, otherwise this will keep happening."

In the aftermath of the flooding, environmental health officers from Derry City and Strabane District Council said they visited a total of 21 homes, and have confirmed that at this stage two inhabited buildings have been affected by flood water damage.

Rain also battered other parts of West Tyrone. Police warned of surface water and flooding on roads in the Fermanagh and Omagh areas, such as the Drumlish and Edenanohill Road, and the Tummery Road, between Irvinestown and Dromore. Other roads, including near Lack and Ederney, also proved treacherous.

Waterlogged

At Omagh Golf Club, all play was called off until further notice due to a waterlogged course. However, the club is confident that water will soon recede and play can be resumed in the near future.

Heavy rainfall also caused the Fairy Water, near Omagh, to burst its banks, with the surrounding farmland waterlogged.

In the aftermath of the flooding, Castlederg Ulster Unionist Party councillor, Derek Hussey, said he will be seeking an Interagency Evaluation Meeting with fellow Derg councillors to help reduce the impact of future such events.

"The intensity and duration of the downpour of rain that occurred at the weekend is something that I have never before experienced," he said.

"Reflecting on the deluge that hit the Derg Valley area on Saturday evening, it would be remiss not to first recognise the initial local community and emergency service response in assistance with sandbags to assist in preventing flood water entering many homes and businesses throughout our area.

"Similarly, the local farming community were active bringing tractors and tankers to clear and pump water away.

"It has been confirmed that an Emergency Funding scheme has been activated to assist those badly impacted by the weekend's flooding and anyone who contacted Floodline will be visited by Council Officers to assess damage and determine if compensation will be forthcoming. Your Insurance Company should also be contacted.

"If you have suffered damage but did not contact Floodline, contact council on 028 71 253 253 to pass on your details for contact or let any of your local councillors know.

"I have requested permission to bring the matter to a full council meeting today (Wednesday) and to ask that an Interagency Evaluation Meeting including all Derg councillors be sought to seek a way forward to reduce the impact of future such events, if not prevent, as there identified issues to be addressed including sandbag replenishment and Floodline response times."