merrion street

A meeting of the National Coordination Group to discuss the on-going severe weather was convened in the (NECC) National Emergency Coordination Centre today (7th December 2015) to review the response to date, to assess the impact of the storms on infrastructure and communities and to ensure that the response of relevant local authorities, Government Departments and Agencies continues to be coordinated.


The response to all emergencies is appropriately locally-led in the first instance (by relevant local authorities in the case of severe weather). The Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government monitors the situation and determines if a Severe Weather National Co-ordination Group should be convened if certain trigger conditions are arrived at or where the local response is overwhelmed and central assistance might be required.

The Storm Desmond severe weather warning issued by Met Eireann was monitored by the Department as Lead Government Department for severe weather emergencies and contact was maintained with Met Eireann, the local authorities and the transport and energy sectors. The agencies in the front-line reported on their responses to the storms at the meeting.


As the response phase ends, the relevant local authorities will commence their clean-ups and in some counties prepare for further possible flooding events particularly in some areas of the Shannon catchment area.

Advice from the group is that weather should be more settled in the days ahead but that more rainfall can be expected. Swollen rivers and sodden land, particularly in the Shannon catchment area should be expected, and the public is advised to avoid walking along riverbanks and seafronts if at all possible until it is safe to do so. The levels in the rivers in the Galway/Clare catchment, the Moy, the Suck will abate in the next day or so.

People are advised to follow local flood warnings issued through local authorities for more detailed information.


The group noted the responses of emergency services, local authority workers, state agencies, businesses and the public for their hard work and patience during the recent event. The NCG will meet again tomorrow to review matters and Local Authorities will continue to monitor river levels in the areas impacted.

The Chairman also requested that the public would continue to heed the safety warnings of the authorities.

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as severe weather conditions through the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. The situation on the ground is monitored and DSP staff engage with the Local Authorities and other agencies to ensure supports are being provided to those affected as swiftly as possible.

Departmental Officials can provide individuals with emergency payments to offset their immediate needs such as the purchase of food, clothing, fuel and household goods. People seeking assistance under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme should contact their local Department of Social Protection office.
Further information and applications forms in relation to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme are available Department of Social Protection offices in the affected areas and from the Department’s website:
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Humanitarian-Assistance-Scheme.aspx


Media queries to the Department of Social Protection may be directed to:
press.office@welfare.ie or Tel: 01 704 3860

Media queries in relation to Flood Relief Measures or Flood Mapping to the OPW may be directed to: OPW Press Officer at 046 9426194.



ENDS

National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
Custom House
Dublin 1

Additional Information.

· Among the towns worst affected are ballybofey/ stranorlar and lifford in donegal; crossmolina had its worst floods in years; the town of ballina has been on an edge; ballinasloe has been affected and athlone and carrick on shannon are also on the edge as the shannon continues to rise; tralee and kilarney in kerry and bandon in cork is badly hit again.
· One-fifth of the country drains down through the shannon so we expect areas of the lower shannon will be affected later this week; we are fortunately in a period of neap tides so that has saved some areas which could be flooded if you get the wrong combinations


Responses.

· Local authorities mobilised their civil defence services (97 vols in donegal) and other voluntary organisations – red cross, mcr, coast guard all mobilised
· The defence forces were active at the request of the local authorities and assisted communities from cork to donegal
· Communities themselves came together to assist their neighbours