Storm Éowyn - Council and HSE updates

Tipperary County Council’s Crisis Management Team and Severe Weather

Activation Team met this morning to discuss Storm Éowyn Red and Orange

Wind Warning issued by Met Eireann.

Red Warning

Valid: 06:00 Friday 24/01/2025 to 11:00 Friday 24/01/2025

Orange Warning

Valid: 00:00 Friday 24/01/2025 to 16:00 Friday 24/01/2025

Public safety is paramount. Everyone needs to act responsibly to protect

themselves and others while reducing pressure on emergency services

and crews, who will be dealing with and responding to the aftermath of

this extremely dangerous and destructive storm.

Tipperary County Council urge people not to travel on Friday during

the Red Weather Warning and to avoid unnecessary travel even when

the red warning passes on Friday.

The extremely strong winds will have resulted in fallen trees, power lines,

damage to property, flying debris, and road blockages making driving

condition dangerous.

Council road crews will not be in a position to respond to callout from 00:00

on Friday until the end of the red warning at 11:00 Friday. Members of the

public using the roads during this period could potentially find themselves

very isolated should they get into difficulty.

The Fire Services will only be in a position to respond to emergency calls

that are deemed to be life critical.

Council Offices and services including libraries, swimming pools and civic

amenity sites will be closed to the public on Friday 24th January. Civic

Amenity sites will reopen on Saturday 25th January.

Members of the public can contact Tipperary County Council Customer

Service Desk on 0818 06 5000/6000 or a dedicated Severe Weather

contact No. 0818 06 5001

• On Friday 24th January from 09.00 to 22.00 and,

• On Saturday 25th January from 09.00 to 13.00,

after which calls will be transferred to the Council’s Out-of-hours contact

no. 0818 06 5003

Members of the public can also email customerservices@tipperarycoco.ie

The storm has the potential to be a significant and historic event

that poses a serious risk to life.

➢ Extremely dangerous travelling conditions

➢ Unsafe working conditions

➢ Disruption and cancellations to transport

➢ Many fallen trees

➢ Significant and widespread power outages

➢ Impacts to communications networks

➢ Cancellation of events

➢ Structural damage

➢ Wave overtopping

➢ Coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas

• The Council is currently securing its construction sites and temporary

roadworks sites to reduce the potential risks, and it advises the public

and companies to take the same preventative measures.

• Secure anything that could blow away such as garden furniture,

trampolines, flower pots etc as these could be turned into missiles in the

wind. Take them indoors if possible.

• Don’t leave wheelie bins outside on footpaths or at front of houses.

• 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.

Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to use chainsaws and

approach fallen lines

• Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the

most up to date information. Information is available across social media

platforms and other news media sources.

• 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.”

• Members of the public are reminded to register on MapAlerter, a public

emergency notification system available on the Council’s Website, where

they can receive additional useful information by text and e-mail.

Further updates and advice will be issued throughout the day via local and

national media and on the Council’s Facebook, Twitter Pages and Website.

Meanwhile, the HSE has advised of significant disruption to HSE Mid West services from red weather warning – including postponement of all outpatient appointments

· All but emergency and essential time-critical services postponed this Friday

With a national ‘Stay at Home’ alert in place this Friday in anticipation of the forecast severe impacts of Storm Éowyn, HSE Mid West is postponing all hospital outpatient and community appointments for the day and working to ensure that emergency and urgent care is safely available to patients most in need. Patients will be notified as soon as possible about a rescheduled date.

With extremely dangerous travelling conditions expected, HSE Mid West is operating only its urgent emergency services for the day. The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick will remain open 24-7 for patients with the most serious illnesses and injuries, including life-threatening emergencies. The Maternity Emergency Unit at University Maternity Hospital Limerick will also remain open.

The region’s three Injury Units will also open as usual from 8am-8pm to treat any minor injuries, including broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. The units are located at:

· Ennis Hospital, V95 HN29 – Tel: 065-686 3121

· Nenagh Hospital, E45 PT86 – Tel: 067-42311

· St John’s Hospital, Limerick, V94 H272 – Tel: 061 462 222

Arrangements are being made to ensure continuation of essential services for chemotherapy and dialysis patients as well as those scheduled for urgent surgery. These patients are being prioritised and are being contacted by the clinical teams in relation to appointments/procedures planned for Friday. Supports to vulnerable people at home in the community will be prioritised on an urgent needs basis.

Commenting, Sandra Broderick, HSE Mid West Regional Executive Officer, said: “We regret the impact of postponement of services this Friday. This has been necessary to ensure the safety of our patients, their families, and our staff, and to ensure continuity of immediate and urgent services during the storm. I’m very grateful to staff across the Mid West for the huge effort they’ve made to ensure emergency and essential care is provided to patients this Friday. I’d like to reassure patients impacted by postponements that we will make every effort to re-schedule their care at the earliest opportunity.”

Adverse weather conditions may present difficulties for patients going home and discharges are being accelerated today, where appropriate, to better manage any surge in presentations arising from impacts from the storm. We are working closely with the National Ambulance Service and private ambulance providers to ensure that hospital transfers and discharges are stood up on Friday as soon as it’s safe to do so.

With severe weather posing a particular challenge to older people and other vulnerable members of the community, HSE Mid West is urging friends, relatives and neighbours to check in with their loved ones regularly, either in person or by phone, over the coming days. The Be Winter Ready webpage at https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/aa78b9-be-winter-ready provides comprehensive advice on preparing for severe weather.

Regular updates will be provided on the ‘Storm Éowyn service disruptions’ webpage https://www2.hse.ie/services/disruptions/ and we will also provide regular updates through local media and on Facebook and Twitter/X, @hsemidwest