Pic by Yvonne Phillips for donegaldaily.com
THIS was the moment a thunder storm from hell hit north Donegal – sparking a flood alert which ruined a hospital wing and wrecked homes.
The picture was taken yesterday afternoon by Yvonne Phillips in Letterkenny and shows a tornado ‘funnel’ carrying millions of gallons of rain water.
Just minutes later a deluge sent water cascading through the town, ruining homes in Glencar and wrecking the new multi-million euro Emergency Department at the town’s hospital.
As the clear-up continues this morning, serious questions are being asked about how so much rain water could once again pour its way into the county’s only main hospital.
Local TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn repeated his demand for answers because it’s not the first time the hospital has been hit by flood water – but it does come after major new work there.
“I will be demanding answers from the HSE on why lessons from the previous flooding were not learned?” said Deputy Mac Lochlainn.
“Why were the necessary flood defences not erected? How could such a costly project not have mitigated against any threat from flooding at planning stage?
“The public as well as staff at the A&E Department need answers to these questions and they need cast iron assurances that this will not be allowed to happen again with the necessary engineering and design remedies provided immediately.”