Early warning system 'would have helped people better prepare for floods'

Householders and businesses will continue to suffer the worst effects of flooding until the State puts in place an early flood warning system, the country's leading independent weather forecaster has said.

Alan O'Reilly, who runs Carlow Weather, said if such a system was in place — at a cost of around €9m — people in areas worst hit by the weekend's Storm Bert could have been better prepared.

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Met Éireann had issued a red weather warning — it's highest alert — for Cork and Galway.

But Mr O'Relly said an early warning system, delivering specific flood alerts, could have helped people better prepare.

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A Met Eireann spokesperson said: "The flood forecasting systems in use by Met Éireann are at a stage of development where direct interpretive guidance from expert hydrometeorologists is essential for their safe and effective use by emergency managers and local authorities. 

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