Storm Éowyn: Updates

Thurs 7.40pm

 

Update regarding Accommodation Safety Concerns and Adverse Weather Assistance during Storm Éowyn

 

Donegal County Council encourages people concerned about residing in mobile homes, or other accommodation with potential structural issues, to consider making alternative accommodation arrangements tonight through family or friends for the duration of the Storm Éowyn Red Weather warning. If you are in this category and are unable to source alternative accommodation overnight through family or friends, it is suggested that Hotel or B&B accommodation is considered. In such cases, please hold on to your accommodation receipt. The Council will put in place a process with a view to reimbursement of reasonable vouched overnight costs in such verifiable circumstances. The practical detail on this will be worked through as part of a range of follow ups that will be necessary in the aftermath of this weather event.

Donegal Civil Defence in association with Donegal County Council, are available to provide essential services, such as collecting / delivering essential medications, food supplies, delivering meals on wheels to the vulnerable, assist in the provision of temporary bedding and welfare, during Storm Éoywn

If anyone in need of assistance, please contact Donegal Civil Defence on 074 9153900

 

 

 

Thurs 6.48pm

Farmers Urged to Take Precaution as Storm Éowyn Approaches

IFA President Francie Gorman has advised farmers to take every precaution over the next 24 hours as Storm Éowyn arrives in the early hours of Friday morning.

The entire country is under a Status Red storm alert, and a “danger to life” warning has also been raised. People are urged to stay indoors and not make any journeys while Storm Éowyn sweeps through the country.

The IFA President Francie Gorman has advised farmers to check their farmyards and put in place whatever safety procedures are needed to safeguard themselves and their livestock until the storm passes.

“Farmers should review whatever measures they normally take when Met Éireann issues a storm advisory. Check buildings, gates, doors, vehicles and equipment to ensure they are secure,” he said.

“Over the next 24 to 48 hours, farm families will face challenges in carrying out their work. It is absolutely essential that farmers think of their own safety, and the safety of their families and their neighbours,” Francie Gorman said.

IFA National Farm Family & Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche said that while farmers will want to care for their livestock, their priority should be their own safety.

“I would encourage everybody to take precaution around their farmyard and farm to see what can be done to limit the risks of the high wind speeds expect,” Teresa Roche said.

“Met Éireann’s advice is that there is an ‘extreme risk to life’ as wind gusts of up to 140kmph expected to batter country. Anybody farming near coastal areas should be very vigilant,” she said.

She also asked farmers to check with any neighbours who may be isolated and to give them whatever assistance they can.

 

 

 

Thurs 4.39pm – Northern Ireland

 

The Department for Infrastructure will close all DVA centres tomorrow, Friday 24 January, due to the Met Office red weather warning issued for Storm Éowyn.

All vehicle tests (MoTs), practical driving tests and driving theory tests will be cancelled.  Customers do not need to take any action.

All affected customers will receive an email to confirm that their appointment has been cancelled.

The DVA will also contact customers by email, as soon as possible, to confirm details of a new appointment.

Due to the red weather warning in place for Storm Éowyn and the advice to avoid travel, Translink has announced there will be no bus or train services operating on Friday morning, 24 January and while the red status is in place.

Strangford ferry service will also be suspended from 7.30am on Friday until further notice.

The service will remain under review throughout Friday and any updates will be issued via Ferry SMS and DfI’s social media channels.

Rathlin Ferry Service 4pm departure from Rathlin and the 4.30pm departure from Ballycastle have been cancelled on Thursday, 23 January, and all sailings will be cancelled on Friday 24 January.

The PSNI has issued a do not travel warning for the period of the red Met office warning tomorrow between 7am and 2pm tomorrow which will see very strong winds and bring a threat to life. Outside the red warning period,  yellow and amber warnings are in place from midnight tonight until midnight Friday with widespread disruption and significant impacts expected.

While staff are on standby to respond to incidents on the roads please be aware that with the adverse conditions expected and advice not to travel during the period of the red warning , this will affect our ability to respond as quickly as usual and incidents will have to prioritised accordingly. The safety of members of the public and our own staff is paramount.

Multi Agency preparations ongoing since yesterday include the Department for Infrastructure’s roads and rivers teams checking and clearing road gullies and other drainage and infrastructure.

Monitoring of river levels and sea levels has been ongoing and will continue until the weather warning has elapsed. Regional Community Resilience Groups have also been advised of weather patterns and to make appropriate preparations.

 

Thurs 4:20pm

Due to the predicted severity of the storm, Uisce Éireann has activated its incident management processes, including deploying generators at key sites where power outages are likely.

Uisce Éireann crews will mobilise and assess any damage to plants as soon as safe to do so and work to restore supply as quickly as possible.

They are also in touch with key stakeholders through the National Emergency Coordination Group and with the ESB to coordinate the return of power to key water services sites post storm.

In the event of a loss of supply, most properties should have adequate storage in their attic tanks for hygiene purposes for at least 24 hours.

There are some simple steps people can take to conserve their water, such as avoiding the use of water-intensive appliances during this time.

To learn more about conserving water, visit www.water.ie/conserve.

Customers can stay informed about their local water supply by visiting www.water.ie, via Uisce Éireann’s X feed, @IWCare, or by signing up for our free text alert service via the website. Alternatively get in touch via the 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278.

Thurs 4:10pm

Ireland West Airport wishes to advise that the airport will be non-operational between the hours of 04:00 am and 13:00 pm on Friday, 24th January, due to the status red storm warning in place across the country. Storm Éowyn is forecasted to have gusts in excess of 130km/h.

Passengers due to travel on flights scheduled between 08:00 am and 14:00 pm, are advised not to travel to the airport. The terminal building will not be accessible to members of the public during this time period. Tomorrow’s scheduled service to and from London Heathrow has been cancelled by Aer Lingus.

The airport will continue to monitor the situation, and it is expected that the airport will be fully operational at 13:00 pm after the red warning expires, subject to safety checks being carried out to assess whether any damage has occurred and to ensure the safety of passengers, staff and the general public. At this point, it is anticipated that flights scheduled to operate from 14:45pm onwards will operate as scheduled. However, this is subject to change based on the weather conditions at the time.

Passengers due to travel to the airport on Friday morning are advised to contact their airlines for further information. Ireland West Airport apologises for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of our staff, customers and partners is of utmost importance during the period whilst the status Red weather warning is in place.

Thurs 3:20pm

In line with a Status red warning issued by Met Éireann, all National Parks and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) sites will be closed on Friday 24th January. Public safety is a priority for NPWS. Facilities and amenities on all sites will be closed and will be opened only following review of all conditions.

People are being asked not to visit National Parks and NPWS sites tomorrow, Friday 24th January, and until further notice due to Storm Éowyn.

Please follow the weather warnings from Met Éireann and advice from the National Emergency Co-ordination Group and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management .

Updates on reopening access to National Parks will be available on NPWS and Department social media platforms and other local and national news sources.

Thurs 2:20pm:

HSE services and appointments will be cancelled tomorrow as a result of Storm Éowyn.

The HSE has confirmed that all Out Patient Appointments, Day Service appointments, electives and community clinics will not be running tomorrow.

Patients are advised not to travel to the hospitals unless absolutely necessary.

Letterkenny University Hospital is putting arrangements in place to ensure the continuation of essential services for chemotherapy and dialysis patients as well as those scheduled for urgent surgery.

Thurs 12:48pm:

Donegal County Council issues further advice:

  • During the Red Level wind warnings, the public are advised to shelter in place and not to travel.
  • The forecasted winds have the capacity to bring severe, destructive and damaging winds which will constitute a risk to life and property.
  • High seas; the public are advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period. The Irish Coast Guard are appealing to people to “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry”.
  • There is a potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas. In addition to this, the Storm Éowyn may also bring localised heavy showers, which in turn may lead to localised flooding.
  • The Electricity network is expected to be severely impacted, the public are advised to prepare for the arrival of the storm including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication.
  • ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie.  In regards to power restoration times.
  • Uisce Éireann customers can check the website and social media channels for updates and to get in touch with any issues or concerns via their 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. The public can also sign up online to our free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies – see www.water.ie.”
  • Orange warnings; the public are advised to limit travel to essential in areas where an orange level warning is in place. Essential services operators will continue to operate services subject to advice from Met Éireann on prevailing local conditions.

Thurs 1:05pm:

Donegal County Council continues to monitor the progress of Storm Eowyn.

A red alert for the county comes into force at 7am tomorrow and will remain in place until 2pm.

Meanwhile, an orange warning for Donegal begins at midnight and will last until 4pm tomorrow.

Donegal County Council’s Director of Economic Development, Emergency Services and Information Systems, Garry Martin is urging people to not travel unless absolutely necessary during the status red warning:

  • An Post says there will be no deliveries or collections tomorrow.
    Post offices will stay closed for the duration of the red warning.
    It’s expecting to run letter and parcel deliveries on Saturday and Sunday.
    An Post says post offices will re-open when it’s safe to do so.
    All social welfare payments usually payable at the Post Office on Friday will be available on Saturday and next week.
  • Due to the onset of the storm and with high tides and storm surge predicted, the Donegal Town Pier Carpark will be closed from midnight tonight (Thurs) until 7pm tomorrow (Fri).
  • Sandbags available from 1pm today (Thurs) at Letterkenny Mart Carpark
  • Public Transport services won’t run, schools, creches and colleges will be closed and employers are being urged to plan today for staff to work from home where possible.
  • Donegal County Council is asking all businesses across the county to remove all sandwich boards and free standing signage from public areas ahead of Storm Éowyn in the interest of Public Safety
  • Aldi has confirmed it will close all of its stores for the duration of the red weather warning.
    The supermarket chain says the decision has been made on safety grounds.
    Updates will be available on Aldi Ireland’s social media accounts.
  • The Irish Coast Guard are appealing to people to “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry”.
  • #EowynDL is being used to track updates on Donegal County Councils social media channels.
  • The Harry Blaney Bridge will be closed during the period of the red and orange weather warnings with a possibility of an extended closure period
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement