A representative for a Co Donegal community impacted by flooding during Storm Bert at the weekend has said she cannot explain how devastating it has been people.
At its peak on Saturday morning flood waters on Bridge Street in Killybegs rose to around 1.2 metres, covering the roof of one car parked on the street.
It is believed the flood was caused by a fallen tree during the storm, which was obstructing the flow of a nearby river.
Sixteen houses and nine businesses were impacted by the flooding, which happened from around 6am.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Gráinne Cafferty said some residents and businesses have lost everything.
"One gentleman woke up to his bed floating, and got out of his bed and was up to his waist in water," she said.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
"And he's told us that he cannot sleep since the flood, and that he's having recurring nightmares every night when he closes his eyes he thinks I'm going to drown."
Some businesses have been told that insurance will not cover them because they were flooded in 2017, she said.
Residents who do not have businesses have been told that they are being means tested, said Ms Cafferty.
"They don't know where they can go or how they will get back into their homes," she said.
More:
Watch: Business owner tells of devastation caused by severe Storm Bert flooding
Ms Cafferty said some sort of intervention is needed from the government or Office of Public Works to ensure the river is never blocked again.
"This river is a very small little river, it's about the width of it's about four or five feet," she said.
"You wouldn't imagine it could be so terrible but if the water builds up at a huge pressure, and a blockage on the river will come out at the lowest point, and the lowest point is Bridge Street."
Finula Coughlan owns Ship Shape Laundrette on the street, a business her mother opened in 1971.
She said there was no indication that Bridge Street would become a target for flood waters.
Ms Coughlan explained that the laundrette was not affected by flood waters in 2017 but that this time they experienced "total devastation".
"What we actually had in our business was waves, absolute sheer waves just crashing over and back within the building, tossing over everything that was in it, bringing all the clothes down off the shelves.
"The machines are saturated.
"Mud and residue scattered everywhere, just absolute carnage."
