Armagh counts cost of damage following flash flooding
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Torrential rain caused much flooding in Armagh.
THE heavens opened over Armagh city on Wednesday last (July 21) bringing traffic in the town to an almost stand still as roads seemed to turn to rivers in a matter of minutes.
In one of the heaviest downpours of rain witnessed in the city in recent years, flash flooding took a hold, with the Cathedral Road, Ogle Street and Irish Street areas worst hit.
The relentless rain began at 5pm and within minutes had caused up to four feet of water to build up in some places, blocking traffic at Railway Street and causing mayhem for business owners.
Greg McKenzie, whose taxi firm was devastated by the flooding, said the water rushed through his offices like "the flow of a river".
“The flood came in a matter of seconds," he said. "We were sitting there and all of a sudden the water just came flooding in.
“We couldn't save anything. We lifted the computer and stuff like that but it was all too late, because it just came in like a river, like a complete flow of a river."
Sinn Fein councillor Noel Sheridan said shops and businesses in the Ogle Street and Railway Street areas were worst affected.
He said: "The problem is the volume of water which fell over a short period of time was something you simply could not plan for.
“My thoughts are with those who have been directly affected."
Around 450 sandbags were distributed in Armagh in the aftermath of the floods by DARD's Rivers Agency, DRD Roads Service and NI Water.
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