83-year-old woman flooded for third time in less than a year

An 83-year-old woman, who has lived in her home in Central Terrace for 56 years, watched helplessly yesterday (Tuesday) as her home was flooded for the third time in less than 12 months. Lena Brennan, who raised her family in her home, has experienced flooding throughout the 56 years but in recent years the situation has worsened considerably and since November 1 last year her home has flooded three times. While many areas of Athlone experienced severe flooding last winter, the floods hit Central Terrace before they hit anywhere else, first at the beginning of November and again two weeks later. Upset at the thought of having to leave her home, which she only returned to just over six months ago, Mrs Brennan told the Westmeath Independent: "I don't want to leave. I've all my memories here. I shouldn't have to leave my home. I'm 56 years putting up with this flooding. It's damaging my health." Mrs Brennan's home floods during periods of heavy rainfall when the rainwater becomes too much for the drainage system. She and her children are angry that the council has done nothing to alleviate the problems, despite promises that work would be done in April, then July, August and now a promise that work will start today (Wednesday). "Here we are again and I've no insurance because they won't take me because we flood so often," she said yesterday. Mrs Brennan, who is visually impaired, explained that her health has suffered as a result of the repetitive flooding: "I was suffering severe shock and stress after the last time. I'm just coming back to myself now and I didn't expect it again." Mrs Brennan's daughter Maria Tobin said: "We've been extremely patient. What does it take for the council to do anything? I've said the council can come and clean Mammy's house this time." She explained that they had just revamped the house after the last flooding and yesterday it was clear to see the vinyl floor in the kitchen floating in the flood water as the Brennan family looked on helplessly, waiting on the council to come and pump the water out of the house. The family is clearly frustrated at the lack of action on behalf of the council, with Maria adding: "When they can spend €380,000 on the European People's Festival and thousands on the castle, why can't they spend a little bit to give an 83-year-old woman a bit of peace for whatever time she has left. They've spent nothing on us." "We haven't given out to them. We're trying to work with the council but they seem to be fobbing us off," she added. And while they family is critical of the council, Mrs Brennan was quick to praise Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran for his help over the years. "Only for Kevin Moran, he's the only one I can turn to for help," she said. "I call him my guardian angel." Maria joined in her mother's praise, saying she had phoned the Fianna Fáil councillor yesterday morning once her mother's house flooded shortly after 10.30am and he had arrived at the house a short time later and was phoning the council on their behalf. She said, however, that every time it rained she begins to worry and couldn't sleep for the last two nights listening to the heavy rain, wondering if her mother's home would be flooded again. "If they drain it and it rains again it could be the very same tonight," she said. Mrs Brennan's son Dinny lives next door and his house was also flooded yesterday. He told the Westmeath Independent he had just had new units installed in his kitchen, had it tiled and gotten new skirting boards and had a new wooden fireplace put in and now they are all damaged now after yesterday's flood. He also would be unable to claim on his insurance for the damage because the company no longer covers him for flooding. "That rain wasn't even like what we experienced last November. It's very early for it to happen," he said. "Anytime there's a drop of rain you start panicking now. We used to get a bit of flooding but it wasn't like this." The issue of flooding in Central Terrace was raised at Monday evening's Athlone Town Council meeting by Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, who told the council executive: "With the heavy rain last night (Sunday) I'm worried about flooding at Northgate Street again." He mentioned both Mrs Brennan and Mrs Dolan, both of whom are in their 80s and said he was very worried that their houses would be flooded again as well. "Something needs to be done ASAP," Cllr Moran told the meeting. Director of Services Barry Kehoe told Cllr Moran: "The council is doing everything to ensure the main drainage system is working at maximum efficiency." He said the council was trying to install some infrastructure that would assist the system in the case of heavy rain or flooding but it was a hard job.