As of 23 November 09, the Defence Forces have 227 personnel and 26 vehicles deployed in Cork, Ennis, Galway and Ballinasloe providing emergency assistance to civil authorities for flood relief. Army personnel continue to provide manpower and mobility in the affected areas with trucks and sandbags to business people and home owners.
Since Sunday, 150 soldiers have been delivering drinking and sanitary water to 22 areas of north Cork city along four routes. Bulk water is being delivered to Collins Barracks, Cork and 20 army trucks are working from 8.00 am to 7.oo pm (approx) delivering on these routes. In co-operation with Cork City Council we are prioritising these deliveries (drinking water, in particular) to the elderly, infirm and housebound. This emergency assistance is estimated to continue for the next seven days.
15 personnel from the Naval Service vessel LE Orla are also working in Cork city at the Mercy and Shanakiel Hospitals and Lee Fields pumping stations. In both hospitals they are pumping in water from tankers to the hospital sanitary water systems. The team at Lee Fields is working with Fire Brigade personnel in pumping out the Pumping Station so that it may be assessed and repaired.
To date over 800 personnel have been deployed since this Assistance to Civil Authority flood operation began last week.