In a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment report which was commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Ballyshannon where the ESB has a hydro - electric generating station, has been earmarked as one of the most vulnerable areas in the country in terms of flood threats.
A spokesman for the ESB said the report rated sites on their “baseline risk” which ignored the quality of flood defences and assumed that they had failed or fallen into a state of disrepair.
The report also warns that there is “historical evidence of tsunami affecting the coasts of Ireland” and that assessments have shown that tsunami waves caused by Atlantic earthquakes could affect the Irish coasts.
However, Ballyshannon residents will be relieved that the probability of a tsunami affecting the town is rated as “very low” and that prospective damage would be minimal. In the past Ballyshannon has played a vital role in curtailing flooding.
In November 2009, over 300 tonnes of water per second were released at the ESB’s dam in order to minimise flooding and major disruption both in Fermanagh and Donegal.