Residents and business owners in Killybegs, Co Donegal have said action is needed to ensure the severe flooding which devastated the town almost two weeks ago does not happen again.
Former TD Thomas Pringle, whose office was among the affected buildings, said it felt "like a bomb hit the place".
"It's only an office but there are people who must continue living in flooded houses. That’s very difficult for them. Some businesses have done well to get reopened," the Killybegs-based politician said.
He said the river which overflowed onto Bridge Street also overflowed at two different locations during Storm Bert.
"It was an extreme weather event. Unfortunately, extreme weather events are going to become more frequent," Mr Pringle added.
Flood waters rose to around 1.2m at its peak.
Gráinne Cafferty of Donegal Refrigeration Ltd says they were fortunate "nobody drowned".
She said for the flooding "to happen once in 2017 was unfortunate but to happen twice, is not acceptable".
"The water will come out if something blocks the river again. People are so worried this will happen again.
"We must put measures in place. The people who will enter government are the people who can do it for us," she said.
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Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Kieran O’Donnell and his department officials will visit Killybegs next Monday.
Mr O’Donnell will meet with affected homeowners and business owners along with senior management of Donegal County Council.
Donegal County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Niamh Kennedy said they are delighted Mr O’Donnell will visit affected homeowners.
She added council engineers "will present what they feel needs to be done to the Minister and his Department officials in order to stop this happening again".
A spokesperson for the OPW said: "A flood relief scheme for Killybegs is planned as part of the national programme of flood relief measures from €1.3bn under the National Development Plan."
They said officials have been "engaging with Donegal County Council to discuss the nature and impact of the recent flooding".
The spokesperson added, that they "will be exploring potential interim and/or advance measures, as well as the resourcing and timing for the commencement" of this scheme, as part of this national programme of schemes".
The Government has opened the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to support householders as well as the Emergency Humanitarian Support Scheme to support small businesses, and community and voluntary organisations affected by the recent flooding in Killybegs.
