This article is from page 28 of the 2009-12-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
ALL of the families who had to flee their homes have now returned.
But an 80-year old woman who had to be brought down ramps in her wheelchair still can’t return to her Clonlara house because everything in her home has been destroyed.
Nora Mason can’t return to her house in Springfield and most likely SAU oLemmcy oles NOCD OToMm GUST MINNeT-MAU LOOM slot daughter, Geraldine Quinliven, who was also evacuated with her husband
and four children.
‘Everything in my mother’s house is gone. There’s an inch and a half of silt covering the floors in there. She has to start again at her age,” said Geral- otter
Geraldine and her family returned home on Saturday, more than a week after having to leave their house in Springfield. They spent the time in the interim in a Limerick hotel. The clean-up operation has taken all weekend, she said.
My husband is taking all the sand-
bags away from our doors and stack- ing them behind the house. I really hope we’re not going to need them again.” said Geraldine.
The burning question for Geraldine – and other families flooded out – is how this will affect their insurance. “We haven’t even gone there yet. We’re just trying to get the boys back into school and into a routine and set- tle ourselves back in.” she said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the emergency team has confirmed that all 20 south east Clare families evacu-
ated have been told they can return home.
GE Tiee Orel Seer elm-riCmsiew ele met on Friday with the families who are residents of the Hampstead Park and Riverbrook Lawn estates in Shan- non Banks.
Mary Halpin General Manager with the HSE said “We have met with the families involved and assured them in relation to their dwellings and offered general advice in relation to any is- sues that may require to be addressed. All families are delighted to be able
to return to their homes and the HSE will continue to offer whatever sup- port it can to families that have been displaced as a result of the flooding” Ger Dollard, Director of Services, Clare County Council said: “The HSE and council have no objection to people returning to their homes. The 20 houses in question have not been affected by flooding while the con- struction of a 310-metre long earthen embankment along the river bank has greatly reduced any risk of flooding taking place in the area in question.”