Cork County Council management has defended itself against criticism that it had not been prepared for Storm Babet which caused millions of euros of flood damage last week, particularly in east Cork.
Addressing County Councillors on Monday, Chief Executive Valerie O'Sullivan said the local authority was "as prepared as any agency could possibly have been for this unprecedented rainfall event, particularly in the town of Midleton and its environs".
Ms O'Sullivan said her comments were for the record, for the purpose of "absolute clarity" and for the information of anyone "who has commented inaccurately in the media".
In a 15-page report, she gave a detailed day-by-day account of how events and responses unfolded between Monday 16 October - when the Status Orange rain warning was first issued - and Sunday 22 October when a Status Yellow rain warning came into effect for the county.
She said prior to any rainfall, on foot of the Orange rain warning issued, all drains and gullies at known flooding hotspots in the county were checked by local crews.
Midleton had been checked and cleared as part of the Council's routine drainage maintenance programme two weeks previously.
But Ms O'Sullivan said that the speed at which the water rose and the level to which it rose was unprecedented.
It is estimated that the town of Midleton flooded within seven to eight minutes.
"No agency, regardless of preparedness or competence, and we had both, could have prevented this.
"The only defence is the construction of a flood relief scheme, as evidence by the comparatively contained situations in towns where defences are in place", she said.
"What happened in Midleton was way beyond the capacity of the town's surface water drainage system.
"The drains in the streets all feed into the rivers.
"The river levels started to rise and rise as more waters fed into them. When the river levels reach a certain point, the run-off water from the streets cannot enter the river and the drains then start to back up. The surface water on the street increases rapidly as it has nowhere to go".
She said the local authority's priority was to save homes and businesses, and because of the multi-agency response, no lives were lost.
She described the response by local authority staff as "nothing short of heroic".
"The task was mammoth, and dynamic as heavy and persistent rainfall combined with already limited groundwater capacity, the high water table, river levels and storm conditions came at us at breakneck speed.
"The assistance of other agencies from early on Wednesday was given expertly, willingly and unstintingly and without that combined commitment, there is no doubt that the people and places affected would today be in a far worse state".
It is estimated that 250 residences and businesses in Midleton were impacted by the flooding which was up to 1.5 metres in places.
Properties also flooded in Youghal, Whitegate, Ladysbridge, Glounthaune, Carrigtwohill, Whitegate, Cobh, Carrigaline, Ballinhassig and Rathcormac.
Cork County Fire Service received 180 calls between 9am and 10pm on Wednesday alone.
Ms. O'Sullivan thanked all the agencies who assisted them in dealing with the devastation caused by Storm Babet.
"We will continue to work for all those affected to restore infrastructure and services across Cork County as quickly as possible, and they continue to be in our thoughts at this very difficult time, as they too work to rebuild their lives, homes and businesses".
