Ex Hurricane Ophelia Relief Efforts (15th – 20th October 2017)

20 October 2017

Civil Defence Units countrywide were placed on standby to assist communities in the aftermath of Ex- Hurricane Ophelia, which struck the country on Monday 16th October.  In many areas Civil Defence Officers attended meetings throughout the day as part of the Local Authority Crisis Management Team.

19th – 20th October:

  • Cork North – 6 members; 2X 4WD Vehicles
    Delivered bottle water to homes in the environs of Macroom.
  • Wexford – 3 members; 2 X 4WD Vehicles
    Delivered water to Ramsgrange Community and National Schools

17th October:

  • Cork South – 10 members; 3 X 4WD Vehicles
    Assisted Gardaí with blocking of street in Kinsale due to loose roofing which was a danger to the public. Assisted the National Ambulance Service with an evacuation of patients.

16th – 18th October:

  • Kerry – 6 members; 3 X 4WD Vehicles
    16th October: Filled and distributed sandbags to areas identified as being of potential risk of flooding;
    17th October: Distributing  boiled-water notice flyers;  Distributing 60 5LR Water Containers to three separate locations, environs of Kenmare, environs of the Beara Peninsula and environs of Glencar;
    18th October: Delivered bottled water to homes in environs of Caherdaniel and Castlecove
  • Wicklow – 15 members; 4 X 4WD Vehicles; 1 Communication Unit
    Assisted with setting up and provided beds to two rest centres for the homeless in Bray; Assisted Gardaí with setting up Road Closures.
  • Waterford – 2 members; 1 X 4WD Vehicle
    Deployed to transport Palliative Care Nurse to a patient
  • Wexford – 19 members; 5 X 4WD Vehicles
    17th October: Deployed a Generator to a family with three men in wheelchairs; Water Tanks ready to be deployed across the county;
    18th October: Delivered Water Tanks to 10 different locations throughout the county.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Cork West
    Operated as a regional severe weather desk, reporting real time information to Garda HQ, HSE Management and County Fire Department.
  • Laois – 10 members; 5 X 4WD Vehicles
    Deployed around the county road network to identify road hazards and reported back to coordination centre.
  • Carlow – 13 members; 4 X 4WD Vehicles
    Identified Road blockages and protected scenes where ESB Lines were down until ESB crews arrived; transported people to hotel accommodation in St Mullins area affected by local flooding.
  • Meath – 9 members; 2 X 4WD Vehicles
    Assessment of post storm damage and reported back to Council Emergency  line; Civil Defence management team briefed local authority Crisis Management Team throughout the day.
  • Tipperary
    Deployed to deliver sandbags to care home sue to potential flooding.

*Civil Defence Units remain on standby to assist as required. Civil Defence has 3,500 volunteers based in every Local Authority area in the country. Civil Defence has a wide range of equipment to deal with  severe weather including 88 Boats, 47 Fire Tenders, 9 Floating Pontoon Units and 130 Four Wheel Drive vehicles.