Summer storm blackout and severe flooding

Around 1,300 customers in the Lurgan and Portadown area were without electricity after a lightning strike on Sunday afternoon.
Flooding at Donard Gardens, Lurgan on SundayFlooding at Donard Gardens, Lurgan on Sunday
Flooding at Donard Gardens, Lurgan on Sunday

Supply was lost at around 4.28pm on Sunday due to lightning, however, electricity was quickly restored by 5.11pm.

Meanwhile several stores at Rushmere had to close early due to the severe weather conditions.

A spokesman for Rushmere Shopping Centre said last weekend’s weather had also caused disruption to a small number of stores in the retail park area of the complex. They were PC world, Harry Corry and Pets at Home.

“Last weekend’s unprecedented rainfall levels created a problem at a small number of stores in the retail part of the complex late on Sunday afternoon which initiated an immediate clean-up and repair operation. The three stores affected closed around an hour earlier than usual for this to take place. Those units affected were trading normally again by mid-morning on Monday and the clean-up of the remaining affected areas is expected to be completed shortly. Fortunately, normal trading operations across the majority of the site, including the retail outlets in the main Shopping Centre, were unaffected.”

Faye Bell from Mourneview said due to the torrential rain the area was flooded for around eight hours. “My front garden was like a pond. Luckily that part of the road dips a bit so it only went half way up people’s driveways. I don’t think anyone’s homes were damaged but cars did have to drive very slowly as it was at least three inches deep.”

DUP MLA Stephen Moutray said: “Properties were flooded in Carrick Drive area, and parts of Mourneview. Places worst affected were those where a river is in the vicinity or where old drains were not functional. On several of the sites I am arranging site meetings to discuss the problems with NIW and Road Service. We have got to see better maintenance of road gullies and rivers/streams that are located close to properties.”