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The Emergency Flooding Payment Scheme has been activated in Northern Ireland after Storm Bert brought flooding across the region on Saturday.
The Department of Infrastructure’s Roads and Rivers Teams have been responding to over 500 incidents since the yellow weather warning for Storm Bert came in last night. They say there has been some internal flooding to properties in Dundonald, Kilcoo, Coalisland and Ballinamallard as well a Royal Mail property in Mallusk.
A spokesperson for the Department added: “Assistance is being provided to remove the flood waters. Some roads across counties Tyrone, Down and Antrim have been blocked by trees and flood waters and crews are on the ground to deal with those incidents.
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“The Emergency Flooding Payment Scheme has been activated by the Department for Communities. The weather warning has now passed and although most rivers have now peaked, staff continue to liaise with Multi Agency partners and to monitor water levels and remove debris from watercourses to help floodwaters to get away.
“Flooding was prevented in many areas due to the proactive screen maintenance work being undertaken by staff who continue to monitor watercourses.
“Please report any incidents of flooding to the Flooding Incident Line 0300 2000 100.
“Keep up to date with the conditions on the roads via http://www.trafficwatchni.com.”
Between 8.00am and 1.30pm Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service received 148 calls.
A spokesperson said: “85 of these related to flooding with crews assisting with the removal of flood water across the country utilising portable pumps.
“10 persons have been assisted from vehicles in flood water and one person was rescued from a river in Antrim by local crews utilising throw lines.
“Throughout this period of heightened operational activity we continued to respond other incidents including a reports of a gas leak, road traffic collisions and animal rescues.”
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