Flooding this weekend. Warnings in October.

Over at Winds and Breezes Treasa noticed something odd about the government’s readiness for predicted floods;

I see from breakingnews that we could be facing the worst flooding in 25 years this weekend. I unfortunately shall be nowhere near the coast to see the unusual high tides, but that’s irrelevant at this junction.

Mr Roche advised people to follow guidelines on the www.flooding.ie website run by the Office of Public Works, the state’s lead agency on flooding.

So I went and had a look at said website and happened on the page regarding Risk of flooding because I figured it would be interesting to see if I or my property were at risk of flooding. Unlikely, but all the same…

From the middle of 2006 information in relation to areas of the country that may be prone to flooding will be available on the Office of Public Works website. www.floodhazardmapping.ie which can also be accessed via the main OPW website www.opw.ie

I have a problem. I can’t open floodhazardmapping.ie because I get a 403 forbidden back from it. And I can’t find that map on opw.ie either.

Has anyone else tried?

Well, I always like asking the OPW questions.

Here was the meat of their explanation.

The site has not yet gone live as we are currently carrying out some enhancements that have become possible due to a recent development in relation to the mapping products underlying the system. We now expect the go-live to be during October. The launch will be publicized.

Enhancements that are so good, we’d be better off with nothing in the meantime. I can’t wait.

Oh, neither do floods.