Tipperary is in recovery mode after Storm Éowyn batters the county

Tipperary is recovering after taking a battering from an unprecedented storm event that had a huge impact across the county.
Storm Éowyn created havoc across with thousands of householders and business premises losing their ESB and water services, roads all over the county were blocked, schools closed down, public offices including libraries and museums were closed and the weather also had an impact on services at Tipperary University Hospital.

All non-urgent health services were cancelled last Friday due to Storm Éowyn.
This included outpatient appointments in hospitals, clinics in primary care centres and day care services for older people
Services that involved staff travelling to client homes including home help, therapies, public health nursing were also cancelled.

Tipperary County Council’s Crisis Management Team met on Monday morning to discuss the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.
They reported that all roads were cleared across the county over the weekend.

POWER OUTAGES
As of Monday morning there were approximately 1,500 power outages mainly in the northern part of the county including Newport, Ballina, Ballina, Birdhill, Cloughjordan and Roscrea and ESB networks were working on restoring supply to these areas.

A Tipperary County Council spokesperson said the local authority was now concentrating its efforts to provide assistance to vulnerable people in isolated communities and households in conjunction with the HSE, An Garda Síochána, Department of Social Protection and Housing Section.

A dedicated contact number 0818 06 5001 has been established to provide assistance to vulnerable people in isolated communities and households where they are experiencing power outages due to the storm.
“Our staff will also seek to assist those with medical/health needs and those lacking social isolation supports.
“Where the council is contacted through this new phone number, we will ascertain what organisation needs to be contacted to respond to the issue i.e. the HSE, An Garda Síochána, Department of Social Protection, Housing Section etc. and then to pass on details.
“We do know that these organisations are reaching out to these people, but we want to ensure that the most vulnerable are not missed.

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VULNERABLE
“In the first instance we encourage families, neighbours, local clubs, and businesses to seek to assist those who are vulnerable in our community.
“Tipperary County Council wishes to express our sincere thanks to all those who provided assistance in recent days to those who are vulnerable in our community,” concluded the statement from Tipperary County Council.
Around the country ESB Networks has restored supply to 438,000 homes, farms and businesses. It is understood that 330,000 customers remain without supply, down from a peak of 768,000 on early Friday morning following the unprecedented impact of Storm Éowyn.

Some of the areas in Tipperary to be badly affected by loss of supply were the areas of Cahir Garranacanty outside Tipperary Town.
As Tipperary people woke up to the damage of the storm on Friday morning the amount of trees blocking roads affected a lot of communities.

Dundrum Golf & Country Club were counting the cost of damage after Storm Éowyn roared through the popular venue overnight.
Several trees on the course were uprooted after the powerful winds came through during the night.

The Lidl supermarket in Carrick-on-Suir was damaged during the storm.
Cllr David Dunne said: “Glad to report that Carrick town centre is reopening for business after the storm. Thankfully not much damage to report. A tree down on Cregg Road is been cleared by the council.
“Lidl shop has been damaged and looks like it might not reopen for a few more hours,” he said last Friday.

Uisce Eireann repair crews were on the ground across county Tipperary working to restore water supplies.
“Crews have been working tirelessly over the weekend to restore supply to impacted customers and deploying back-up generators to site where required.
“All Water Treatment Plants supplying the county have had mains power restored, or are operating by temporary back-up generator until power can be restored.

WATER SUPPLY
“A significant burst on a water main in Ardfinnan was repaired on Friday with customers supply returned.
“Some areas of supply across the county continue to experience water supply disruption.
“We are co-ordinating closely with the ESB to prioritise power restoration and we are also liaising with other agencies including the National Emergency Co-ordination Group and local authorities,” said an Uisce Éireann spokesperson.