Emergency Response Hubs to be established in areas most impacted by power outages

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met today (Sunday) and continues to ensure all efforts are made to restore power, water, telecommunications and other services to homes, farms and businesses following Storm Éowyn.

The NECG met as ESB Networks continues today to mobilise all available resources to restore power connections as soon as possible, including crews coming from the UK. Power has been restored to 438,000 customers; however some 330,000 homes, farms and businesses remain without supply.

Unprecedented damage has been done by Storm Éowyn. ESB Networks have updated www.PowerCheck.ie with expected restoration times. By Friday, 31st January the vast majority of those impacted by Storm Éowyn will have had their supply restored. After this, the remaining customers (approximately 100,000), will progressively have their supply restored over the course of the following week.

Estimated Restoration Times will continue to be updated as the restoration continues to progress. Weather conditions may impact on the restoration work.

Telecommunications and water supplies have also been significantly affected. In most cases, this is a due to knock-on effects of power outages, with assessments continuing.

In order to marshal all available resources to restore power supplies, Ireland has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and has made a request for high-capacity generators to support critical infrastructure operators.

A key focus for the NECG and all organisations involved is to find solutions, to support ESB Networks in the restoration works which has had a consequential impact on water, communications and other services.

Due to the unprecedented extent of the disruption to services, the NECG has established two additional Sub-Groups to manage the ongoing coordination of the whole of government response to the impact of the storm, namely:

NECG Sub-Group on Communications Infrastructure; and

NECG Sub-Group on Humanitarian Assistance

Working with the support of the other members of the NECG Sub-Group on Humanitarian Assistance, the local authorities will continue to coordinate a local level response to the needs of people who have been significantly impacted by the storm.

Local authorities will:

• Establish, in the worst affected areas, Emergency Response Hubs to assist people with basic needs such as water, hot food, phone charging, broadband access, shower and clothes washing facilities, etc.;

• Continue to manage Local Coordination Groups in the worst affected areas to coordinate available supports and assistance;

• Continue to offer helplines for those in need of assistance and to provide advice and direction to supports available, including the Department of Social Protection's Humanitarian Assistance Scheme; and

• Source/provide supports and equipment for those most in need.

Not all local authorities will need to establish Emergency Response Hubs/Local Coordination Groups - Local authorities are best placed to gauge the level of response required in their areas.

All local authorities will share available resources between them, and a central national database is being established to support this.

Local authorities will ensure that all appropriate local and national organisations are coordinated in responding to individual and community needs and, most importantly, that the needs of the most vulnerable are prioritised.

Keith Leonard, Chair of the NECG said:

"With yellow weather warnings in place for much of the country today and into tomorrow, we are again going to see dangerous travelling conditions. These strong and gusty winds may cause further damage to already weakened structures and trees - so please take extra care if travelling, and remember to never approach fallen or damaged wires as they are likely to be live and very dangerous.

"The ESB continues to make a huge effort to restore power to those still affected by Storm Éowyn. The damage and disruption to our infrastructure network was unprecedented and the scale of the challenge towards recovery is significant. While all available resources are being used to restore power and services as fast as possible, many people may unfortunately be waiting several days before normality returns.

"For those still awaiting a restoration of power, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group is helping Local Authorities to co-ordinate the humanitarian response at a local level, with efforts being made to provide support, assistance and facilities for those who have been significantly impacted, with the needs of the most vulnerable being prioritised. We remain focused on providing cross-Government support to these recovery efforts - making sure that any organisation that can help is available to do so."

NECG Sub Groups will meet again later today to progress work in their respective areas.

The full NECG will meet again tomorrow, and work will continue throughout the day and week to coordinate the response and recovery.

Power

330,000 homes, farms and businesses remain without power following Storm Éowyn.

ESB Networks is mobilising all available resources to restore power to homes, farms and businesses as soon as possible. Already power has been restored to 438,000 customers and intensive work will continue.

ESB Networks have updated ww.PowerCheck.ie with the expected restoration times: this shows that by Friday, 31st January, the vast majority of those impacted by Storm Éowyn will have their supply restored. After this the remaining customers, approximately 100,000, will progressively have their supply restored over the course of the following week.

Estimated Restoration Times will continue to be updated as the restoration continues to progress. Weather conditions may impact on the restoration work.

ESB Networks is part of a mutual association called NEWSAC (North, East, West, South Area Consortium) which is composed of all of the electricity companies in Ireland and the UK. These companies provide mutual aid to support each other in the aftermath of storms. Further support is expected to arrive from the UK in the coming days. In addition, ESB Networks crews from the south of the country and Dublin are being deployed across the worse impacted areas, while skilled retirees from ESB Networks are also being redrafted to assist.

An Important Public Safety Message: ESB Networks reminds the pubic to Stay Safe, Stay Clear of fallen electricity wires. If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous. Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999.

Water

Uisce Eireann repair crews are again on the ground across the country today working to restore water supplies and wastewater plant and networks.

There are approximately 109,000 customers without water as of lunchtime today, and a further are 126,000 at risk. An additional 112,000 people are now being supplied by schemes where generators have been deployed by Uisce Éireann crews.

Telecoms

The estimated effect of Storm Éowyn on the national telecoms userbase was the largest in Comreg's recording history, but is improving as repair and restoration work carries on over the weekend.

As of 10:00am (Saturday, 25 January):

• Just over 140,000 Fixed Service users (5%) are affected.

• 1.25 million Mobile Service users (21%) are affected.

• Total users affected nationwide is 26%, or approximately 1.4 million.

The most impacted areas are Galway, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Monaghan, Cavan, Roscommon, Dublin, Cork, Meath and Westmeath.

Those affected by Fixed Service failures will likely experience full disconnection. Those affected by Mobile Service failures are unlikely to experience complete disconnection. They may experience disruption on data and voice; text messaging is much less likely to be affected.

Calls to emergency services utilise any available network, regardless of operator subscription. These are expected to continue to function as normal nationwide. Restoration of Mobile Service will focus on voice and SMS initially; data services may be slower to return. ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation) is monitoring the situation and liaising with operators; further updates will be provided over the coming days.

Schools

The Department of Education has advised that schools closed on Friday due to Storm Éowyn should open on Monday, as long as it is safe to do so and power has been restored. Schools should carry out safety checks on buildings and facilities, check for fallen wires and any other damage near the school before reopening. If a school has any issues caused by the storm, the board of management can make the decision to remain closed until it is safe to reopen.

Health services

HSE services throughout the country saw significant disruptions due to Storm Éowyn.

Updates, advice and details of further health service disruptions at https://www2.hse.ie/services/disruptions/ and the HSE will also provide regular updates through local media and on national and regional social media channels.

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, has confirmed that the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affected by Storm Éowyn.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme mitigates hardship by providing income tested financial assistance schemes to households affected by a severe weather event.

The Department of Social Protection adopts a three-stage approach:

Stage 1: Provide emergency support payments (for food, clothing, etc.) in the immediate aftermath of the event. This Stage is not income tested and is based on the immediate need of impacted individuals.

Stage 2: Replace white goods and basic furniture.

Stage 3: Focus on damage to a household's primary residency.

The scheme will not cover losses covered by an insurance policy.

The income limits for the scheme are:

• €50,000 for a single person

• €90,000 for a couple

• €15,000 per dependent child

Reduced or tapered level of support may be provided in cases where your household income is above the limits.

If any homeowner affected by severe weather needs to access these supports, emergency Community Welfare Service contact details are available here gov.ie - Customer Notices (www.gov.ie).

Road safety

Nationally all road users are being advised to be aware of the dangers that may remain following the storm such as downed pylons, lines, trees, branches, and other debris which could block roads. Obey any road closures or diversions put in place by local authorities and An Garda Síochána.

Transport

Most transport services have now returned to normal, but passengers are still advised to contact their operator for the most up to date information.

Farm safety

Farmers should not put their safety at risk making repairs to buildings or removing fallen trees or branches. This should only be undertaken by operators with the skills and the personal protective equipment to carry out the work safely.

Fallen electricity wires and wires in contact with or close to damaged trees pose a particular risk in the aftermath of a storm. The ESB should be contacted immediately where electricity wires pose a risk to safety.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Press Office

Tel: (01) 888 2638 (direct)

Email: [email protected]

Website: gov.ie/housing

Twitter: @DeptHousingIRL