The power of community

Emergency community hubs will continue to provide services across Cavan so long as there are significant numbers of people still left without power and water.

As of Tuesday afternoon (January 28), tens of thousands of local homes and businesses still were without basic utilities after the unprecedented damage caused to networks by Storm Éowyn.

Despite a Herculean round-the-clock effort to restore services, the worst affected areas still won’t see electricity for another week, while boil water notices have been issued in places where water has been restored but treatment plants are under severe pressure.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met on Monday with all government departments, response agencies, including local authorities, ESB Networks, Eirgrid, Irish Water, and emergency services in attendance.

All efforts are being concentrated on restoring power, water, telecommunications and other immediate services to homes, farms and businesses following last Friday’s record breaking storm.

Provisional data from Met Éireann’s weather station at Ballyhaise recorded the highest gust blowing between 7-8am at 115km/h.

Power outages

Power has been restored to more than 550,000 customers nationally, and by Friday, January 31, ESB Networks hope to have the majority of those impacted reconnected.

However, there are thousands of customers in areas spread throughout Cavan, from east to west, facing estimated restoration times as far out at February 5-6.

Council road crews and fire brigades worked through the weekend to restore access to the county’s road network and to other vital infrastructure impacted by Storm Éowyn.

A significant number of trees fell during Friday and Saturday, some across power lines; with high winds associated with Sunday’s Storm Herminia again causing further issues.

All 10 of Cavan’s fire brigades were called into action, supported by 21 roads and municipal district crews, “mostly clearing trees” said a council spokesperson, but also responding to emergency incidents such as domestic fires and ambulance assists.

Crisis management

In liaison with the NECG, the council’s crisis management team has been meeting regularly to direct the local authority response to this “historic storm event”.

Cavan’s Local Coordination Group, bringing together the local authority, An Garda Síochána, and the HSE at a strategic level, has also met, while the council has been in constant contact with ESB Networks and Uisce Éireann regarding updates to local supply.

“Cavan’s 3,000km of road network is now largely clear, bar a small number of routes where power lines are involved and ESB Networks’ assistance is required,” said the spokesperson, who confirmed that the local authority is working to effect “emergency repairs” to the homes of council tenants damaged by last Friday’s high winds.

The Civil Defence were active too, assisting those who required transport to urgent medical appointments.

Water

The council meanwhile is continuing to engage with water treatment plant operators, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS), as well as individual group water schemes regarding issues arising from the effects of Storm Éowyn.

Customers supplied by the Belturbet Public Water Supply Scheme (approximately 2,159) are currently facing a Boil Water Notice, expected to last several days at least.

Alternative water supplies, supplied by Uisce Éireann and Group Water Schemes, are in place.

Locations include:

Mullagh Heritage Centre

Dowra Mart

Bawnboy – Kildallan GAA Club

Belturbet – Centra

Cootehill – White Horse Hotel

Kingscourt – SuperValu

Ballinagh – Community Playground

Ballyjamesduff – St. Clare’s College (currently being refilled)

Ballyhaise – St. Mary’s Church

Bailieborough - Main Street

Swanlinbar – Main Street

Mountainlodge – Carrickallen Church

Consumers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from tankers and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure.

“The sector has been significantly impacted,” said the council spokesperson. “Some group water schemes are still without power, which is limiting their ability to operate treatment plants and to provide water to members. As electricity power returns in affected areas, group water schemes are continuing their efforts to return to full operations.”

Community spirit

As the clean-up continues, the network of local community hubs set up in the wake of Storm Éowyn will remain open for those affected by power cuts and water outages so that they can come and avail of facilities such as charging, heat, and tea/coffee.

Cavan Community Forum has convened to marshall the humanitarian response, and Cavan County Council, as lead agency, has arranged for a number of community hubs to open to provide facilities such as showers, heating, tea and coffee, and hot-desking.

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr T.P. O’Reilly hailed the efforts of council staff and the resilience of the people of Cavan.

“This has been an extraordinary weekend where we have witnessed the worst of nature’s destructive power and the best of our capacity to respond to adversity,” he said.

“I want to thank each and every firefighter, council worker, civil defence volunteer, ESB and Uisce Éireann staff, contractors and community volunteers who have contributed to the clean-up operation, which is already at an advanced stage. There still remains a great deal of work to do, but I’m confident that in a matter of days, normality will have returned.”

In the meantime, Cllr O’Reilly appealed to the people of Cavan to “continue to look out for your neighbours, and to especially look in on vulnerable or isolated family, friends, and neighbours who may have been affected by this storm.”