Storm Éowyn Leaves Ireland in Crisis: 100,000 Without Power Until February
Ireland is grappling with the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, the moast severe storm to hit the country in decades. Over 300,000 homes and businesses remain without electricity, while 109,000 are still waiting for water services to be restored. The storm, which brought winds exceeding 180km/h in parts of the West, has left a trail of destruction, with some areas expected to remain without power until february.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) has been working tirelessly to manage the crisis, meeting again on Sunday to oversee the ongoing clean-up operation. Local authorities are focused on clearing roads of debris and fallen trees, but the scale of the damage is immense.
Adding to the chaos, Met Éireann has issued fresh weather warnings as Storm Herminia sweeps across the country.Counties Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim were under a snow and ice warning until 9am on Sunday, while Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, kilkenny, Carlow, and Wicklow remain under a status yellow rain warning until 5pm. Heavy downpours are expected,raising concerns about localized flooding.Further complicating recovery efforts, a yellow wind warning is in place for counties Galway, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin until 3pm.Munster is also under a wind warning until midday, with fears that already weakened structures could suffer additional damage.
ESB Networks has restored electricity to 438,000 customers,but 330,000 remain without power. The utility company anticipates full restoration by next Friday, but the road to recovery is fraught with challenges.
| Key Statistics |
|———————|
| Homes without power: 330,000 |
| Water services disrupted: 109,000 |
| Wind speeds during Storm Éowyn: 180km/h+ |
| Expected power restoration: Next Friday |
As ireland braces for more adverse weather, the focus remains on restoring essential services and ensuring the safety of affected communities. For those navigating insurance claims in the wake of the storm, Storm insurance: How long to settle my claim? And will my premiums go up? provides valuable insights.
the resilience of the Irish people is being tested, but with coordinated efforts and community support, the nation will weather this storm. Stay updated with the latest forecasts from Met Éireann and follow safety guidelines to navigate these challenging times.storm Éowyn Leaves Thousands Without Power and Water, Disrupts Communications and Sporting Events
Storm Éowyn has wreaked havoc across Ireland, leaving over 100,000 people without water and disrupting power, communications, and sporting events. The storm,which brought some of the strongest winds on record,has caused unprecedented destruction,with recovery efforts expected to continue for days.
Power and Water Disruptions
The ESB has been working tirelessly to restore power to affected homes.On Sunday afternoon, nearly 109,000 people were without water, while 112,000 were relying on generators for supply. Margaret Attridge, head of water operations at Uisce Éireann, stated that teams are collaborating with the ESB to “prioritise sites” and ensure “choice water supplies and (water) tankers” are made available to communities.
Almost 140 of Uisce Éireann’s treatment plants lost power on Saturday, prompting the use of generators to restore supply. The ESB estimates that approximately 100,000 customers will have their supply restored progressively over the coming week.
Communications Impact
The storm has also severely impacted communications services. According to ComReg, the communications sector watchdog, nearly 300,000 fixed-line customers and 1.8 million mobile customers faced disruptions over the weekend. In total, more than 2 million phone and broadband customers experienced some degree of access difficulties.
Transport and sporting Events
Transport services, including buses, trains, and flights, have largely returned to normal. However, Iarnród Éireann has warned that the Mayo to Dublin train is unlikely to operate on Sunday due to a major power outage affecting automatic level crossings and fallen trees on the line.
Sporting events were not spared either. the Allianz Football League division 1 clash between Kerry and Donegal was postponed as the Donegal team was unable to travel due to the severe weather conditions.
Government Response
Tánaiste Simon Harris announced on X that the Defence Forces are assisting ESB Networks with helicopters to aid in power restoration efforts. He also confirmed that the Civil Defence is on “standby” across the country.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin assured the public that the Government will conduct a full assessment of the storm’s impact to determine “what supports we can offer people and businesses.” He acknowledged that “every effort is being made” to reconnect homes to the power grid and secure water supplies but emphasized that the “destruction caused by some of the strongest winds on record has been unprecedented, and there is still a huge amount of work needed in the days ahead.”
Key Impacts of Storm Éowyn
| Category | Impact |
|———————–|—————————————————————————|
| Power | 100,000 customers without supply; restoration expected over the next week |
| water | 109,000 people without water; 112,000 relying on generators |
| Communications | 300,000 fixed-line and 1.8 million mobile customers affected |
| Transport | Mayo to Dublin train service disrupted |
| Sporting events | Kerry v Donegal match postponed |
As recovery efforts continue, the public is urged to stay informed and follow updates from official sources. The Government has pledged to provide necessary support to those affected by the storm.For more details on the postponed Kerry v Donegal match, visit this link.
