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Thursday, 23rd January 2025

Storm Éowyn Information from Louth County Council

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The Louth County Council Severe Weather Assessment Team convened again this morning, Thursday, to plan for the arrival of Storm Éowyn.

Met Éireann says that the storm will bring gale-force winds with severe, damaging and destructive gusts of up to 130km per hour across the country.

A Status Red wind warning for Louth is in place from 6am until 11am on Friday 24th January. A Status Orange wind warning is also in place from midnight until 4pm on Friday.

“This will be a dangerous, damaging and disruptive storm and we would ask the public to adhere to the guidelines that have been issued by Louth County Council and the relevant authorities,” said Louth County Council Chief Executive David Conway.

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The National Emergency Coordination Group has said this storm is likely to be among the “severest" that Ireland has ever seen so public safety and the preservation of life is paramount.”

As Storm Éowyn approaches, Louth County Council have issued the following key messages.

Travel
The public is advised to shelter in place and avoid any travel during the Red Warning.

Households
Louth County Council advises the public to secure items such as garden furniture, trampolines, flowerpots and wheelie bins and take them indoors if possible. Where possible bring your pets inside and check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable.

Structural damage
Structural damage is expected, along with fallen trees, damage to power lines and power outages. The electricity network is expected to be severely impacted, and the public is advised to prepare for the storm's arrival by ensuring that mobile phones and devices are fully charged to enable communication. Have torches on standby - with spare batteries – but please don't leave candles unattended as they are a fire hazard.

Coastal areas
The public is advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period. There is a potential for wave overtopping and tidal flooding in low-lying, exposed Atlantic coastal areas. In addition to this, Storm Éowyn may also bring localised heavy showers, which in turn may lead to localised surface flooding, which may prevail into Saturday.

The Irish Coast Guard is appealing for people to 'Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.'

Homelessness Services

The Louth County Council Homelessness Services team have carried out a rough sleeper’s assessment with no rough sleepers identified.

Homelessness Services will be available between 9am-5pm by calling Customer Services at 042 93 35457.

Homelessness Services providers (eg: Dundalk Simon Community and Drogheda Homeless Aid) and An Garda Síochána have direct access to the Homelessness Services team outside normal working hours to make arrangements where required. Further beds and spaces have been arranged at the Homelessness Services providers' locations.

Normal emergency out-of-hours arrangements are in place via the out-of-hours service.

Clean-Up Operations
Louth County Council emergency crews will monitor the situation over the coming days and a major clean-up operation is anticipated across the weekend. The public is advised that emergency crews will only be able to attend to situations whenever it is safe for them to do so. The safety of the emergency crew is paramount.

Louth County Council buildings
All Louth County Council offices, libraries, facilities and work sites will be closed on Friday 24th January.

Louth County Council Contact and Updates
Louth County Council has an Out-of-Hours ‘24/7’ telephone service available at 042 933 5457. Updates will be provided throughout the period on the Louth County Council X account.

Emergency Services
Call the ambulance, fire service, Gardaí and Coast Guard on 112/999.

Met Éireann
Visit www.met.ie/ for the most up-to-date information from Met Éireann. Information is also available across the Met Éireann App, social media platforms (@meteireann) and other news media sources.

MET Eireann’s Forecast office will be available 24/7 at 01 8064255 to provide advice to decision-makers across the emergency response agencies.

ESB Networks
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 them immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie concerning power restoration times.

Uisce Éireann
Uisce Éireann customers can check www.water.ie and social media channels for updates and can 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 for a free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies.

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