NECG to meet again today to coordinate post storm effort

Experts from Austria are expected to arrive in Cavan today to help with power restoration operations

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) will again meet today to continue to coordinate and concentrate efforts to restore power, water, telecommunications and other services to homes, farms and businesses following Storm Éowyn.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister Dara Calleary and Minister James Browne travelled yesterday (Tuesday) to counties and communities most affected in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

Minister Browne travelled to Longford, Cavan and also Monaghan.

In Cavan, Minister Browne met with emergency staff and council workers at the Civil Defence HQ on the Dublin Road, and after visited Kingspan Breffni which opened its doors to families left without power and water.

All government departments, response agencies, including local authorities, ESB Networks, Eirgrid, Irish Water, and emergency services attend the NECG which is the established central government platform for responding to national level emergencies under the Strategic Emergency Management Framework.

Engineers from EU nations have begun arriving in Ireland to assist with the effort.

Finnish line workers are expected in Longford, while experts from Austria are expected to arrive in Cavan today to help with power restoration operations.

ESB Networks continues to mobilise all available resources to restore power connections as soon as possible alongside additional crews coming to support from the UK and the EU.

Power has been restored to 600,000 customers; however some 168,000 homes, farms and businesses remain without supply.

By Friday, January 31, 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.

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

A key focus for government, the NECG, and all organisations involved is to find ways to support power restoration works that will make the most impact in terms of restoring water, communications and other services.

Minister Browne said: “This once in a generation storm has created unprecedented challenges in its wake. For those families, businesses and farms awaiting the restoration of power and services, the government is using every resource available to support them and to get their services restored.

“As we move towards a full restoration of services, we are supporting those still experiencing severe challenges, especially our most vulnerable. Later today, I will be visiting some of the Emergency Response Hubs we now have now in place – over a 140 Hubs at last count. These are strategically placed across the most affected areas, providing food, water, shower facilities, power, connectivity, and information for those who need it.”

Chair of the NECG Keith Leonard noted that the NECG is making sure both the restoration efforts and the humanitarian response is fully co-ordinated and joined up across all organisations and agencies. "We are continuing to support local authorities as they provide a local response to the needs of people who have been significantly impacted by the storm – enabling information and resource sharing between all those involved in this effort. Local Coordination Groups are now in place in 16 counties, and these groups are working with other organisations and agencies to make sure our most vulnerable people are checked on and prioritised for support.

“The NECG is also helping to make sure that all available resources are being used to restore power, water, telecommunications and other services to homes, farms and businesses who are still disconnected following this unprecedented storm. The co-ordinated response that the NECG brings allows organisations to work together where possible, and to facilitate works that will make the most impact in terms of restoring services.”