Update at 5pm on Wednesday 28 Feb RED Level Warning
By CORPORATE SERVICES | Published: 28/02/2018
Press Statement – Further update 5pm on Wednesday 28 Feb- Severe Weather Alert
Kildare County Council’s Crises Management Team incorporating the Severe Weather Assessment Team reconvened for a second time today at 3.15pm to discuss and analyse the impact of the severe weather being experienced in County Kildare. We are also continuing to work in close co-operation with An Garda Siochana, the HSE and the Defence Forces.
The council’s response teams including roads, water, fire, civil defence are actively engaged in dealing with the current weather situation. Currently we have 9 snowploughs in operation, in conjunction with 20 privately contracted ploughs and ploughs supplied by the Defence Forces. In addition Civil Defence are using 7 four wheel drive vehicles to assist members of the public in difficulty and to ensure Kildare County Council truck drivers and members of An Garda Siochana can get to their places of work.
Water Services continue to monitor the water infrastructure in Kildare and have not experienced any major issues so far.
As temperatures are expected to reach a low of -6 degrees celsius tonight, (Wednesday), motorists are urged to continue to exercise caution on all roads when driving and to avoid any unnecessary journeys. Please review the Winter Ready Booklet http://bit.ly/2F9Auot on our website for useful information.
The main concern at national level remains the forecast for Thursday night and Friday. Storm Emma coming up from the south will meet the polar air from the east and will give rise to heavy snowfalls, starting in the south of the country at approx. 16.00 hr on Thurs evening and spreading up across Munster and Leinster. With winds up to 100 km/hr allied with the snowfall, Met Eireann have issued a RED LEVEL WARNING for Munster and Leinster extending from 16.00 hrs Thurs to 12.00 noon on Friday.
Having considered the Met Éireann warning, and the likely impacts of blizzard conditions, and FOR REASONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY COORDINATION GROUP IS ADVISING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT VENTURE OUT OF DOORS WHILE THE RED LEVEL WARNING IS IN PLACE IN THEIR AREA.
The public are also encouraged to check on vulnerable neighbours.
Kildare County Council’s Crisis Management Team will reconvene again tomorrow and further updates will be published on our website http://kildare.ie/countycouncil, Facebook and Twitter.
The Peter McVerry Trust, on behalf of Kildare County Council have put the Cold Weather Initiative for the county into operation to provide shelter for people sleeping rough during the severe weather conditions and the Freephone Number for this service is 1800 804 307 and is operational at all times.
Please note that all Kildare County Council offices and libraries are closed until Monday morning, (5th March).
If you need to contact us for urgent matters please telephone: 1890 500 333
Ends 5 p.m. on 28 February 2018