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ESB liable for UCC flooding damages due to dam management

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  • 08-07-2020 3:40pm
    #1
    Supercell
    Registered Users Posts: 15,322 ✭✭✭✭


    I must say , I'm quite interested and a bit surprised by the findings of the judges here.

    Basically they are saying that if the hydro dams were not there UCC would have flooded just as bad or maybe worse.
    They say that as the forecast was for wet weather and that
    by releasing water earlier to cope with very heavy rain forecast, the ESB may well have flooded UCC and Cork city to some degree which, on the evidence, would have been less than the major flood ultimately caused

    Which begs the question, what if they had done exactly that, caused some flooding and consequent damage to UCC and the rain subsequently passed to the north or south instead? The judges here are making the assumption that forecasting rain tracks is an exact and predictable science.

    What do you guys think?

    Link to the article - https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/esb-may-face-huge-damages-bill-as-supreme-court-finds-it-negligent-over-2009-ucc-flooding-1009944.html
    https://www.loughlinstown.ie

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



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    #2
    beggars_bush
    Registered Users Posts: 4,343 ✭✭✭beggars_bush


    Supercell wrote: »
    I must say , I'm quite interested and a bit surprised by the findings of the judges here.

    Basically they are saying that if the hydro dams were not there UCC would have flooded just as bad or maybe worse.
    They say that as the forecast was for wet weather and that

    Which begs the question, what if they had done exactly that, caused some flooding and consequent damage to UCC and the rain subsequently passed to the north or south instead? The judges here are making the assumption that forecasting rain tracks is an exact and predictable science.

    What do you guys think?

    Link to the article - https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/esb-may-face-huge-damages-bill-as-supreme-court-finds-it-negligent-over-2009-ucc-flooding-1009944.html

    Happens every year on the Shannon


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    #3
    Nabber
    Registered Users Posts: 2,855 ✭✭✭Nabber


    If they didn't release the water and the rain had a direct hit the outcome would have been worse (or that's what is suggested?). So a decision was made on the time with the pedictions at that time.

    Similar arguments have been made with forrest fires in USA, where wind predictions changed and controlled burns carried out on the basis of weather predictions were not required but ended in unnecessary damaged private/public property.

    My take on it seems to be that we know the predictions change change, but we must act on what we have. If the prediction change then we can't hold the non experts responsible. ie ESB rely on MET E, they acted on MET E predictions, holding ESB accountable for an error in weather prediction accidental or otherwise by MET E seems illogical.


  • Options
    #4
    SeaBreezes
    Registered Users Posts: 1,524 ✭✭✭SeaBreezes


    I remember at the time though there was crazy rain forecast.
    And the ESB opened the Dam at high tide, the radios had been ALL day warning people that high tide was the time to watch, and at that time the Dams had to be released.
    A more controlled release, earlier in the day, would have meant less flooding?


  • Options
    #5
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,632 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    beggars_bush wrote: »
    Happens every year on the Shannon

    Not mention the near total destruction of the Salmon and Eel fisheries there by same crowd :mad:


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