‘Waiting to tell us common sense’: Frustration grows over Clare’s storm-readiness delays

After Storm Éowyn exposed major gaps in communications and emergency planning last winter, councillors in Clare are now calling for stronger preparation for future extreme weather events.

As winter approaches, concerns were raised at the November meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, with calls “to urgently develop and put in place a Community Support Centre Activation Plan.”

Fine Gael councillor Joe Garrihy, who proposed the motion, said he is seeking immediate progress on the plan and thanked Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly and his response team for their work over the past year.

However, he criticised the "speed of response" in delivering a county-wide activation plan based on the shortcomings highlighted during Storm Éowyn.

READ NEXT: Shannon Airport unveils Ireland’s first airfield solar PV farm in multimillion euro investment

Cllr Garrihy explained that he is "not happy with the amount of time it has taken - I don't know anything more now as to how we are going to respond [to extreme weather] then I did a year ago".

He said that the council "need to start planning ahead" and be more proactive in their approach to preparing for extreme weather this winter, stating that it is "not good enough waiting for these national plans to tell us common sense".

“The need to give some degree of certainty to our communities” was a key point behind the motion.

During Storm Éowyn, “a lot of farmers, neighbours and community centres” stepped in to help, but with “no mobile phones” and no clear communication plans in place, people were left unsure of where to go or what to do.

Cllr Garrihy compared the situation to the Covid-19 pandemic, when volunteer groups “produced information documents with steps you could take if something happened,” noting that a similar approach is needed for extreme weather events.

Under the draft Community Support Centre Activation Plan being sought, Cllr Garrihy want it to outline which centres would be used in emergencies, how they would be activated, and how they would coordinate with local authorities and key agencies.

In a written reply, Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer, and Leonore O’Neill, Senior Executive Officer, said Clare County Council is “committed to ensuring the safety and resilience of our communities in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events.”

They highlighted that a robust response strategy is already in place, including the Major Emergency Plan, Severe Weather Plan, Winter Maintenance Plan, Flood Plans, and Regional Communications Plan, which allow engagement with local agencies, Crisis Management Teams, and national bodies such as the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management and Met Éireann.

Mr Kelly and Mrs O'Neill acknowledged the “significant and timely contribution of communities and volunteers” during Storm Éowyn and said it will “further engage with communities on the drafting of a county-wide guidance document on community preparedness, resilience and supports.”

They also confirmed that recommendations from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Storm Éowyn review are being reviewed and will be actioned where necessary to enhance the council’s emergency response strategy.

Fianna Fáil councillor Rita McInerney spoke in support of the motion, recalling that during Storm Éowyn she experienced a “scary situation” when someone she knew needed an ambulance and they did not know whether they could contact emergency services or where to go for help.

Cllr McInerney said the issue was “down to communication” and proposed a backing document outlining steps people can take in emergencies.

She recommended that the backing document be shared across official channels and on social media, encouraging residents to print it so that, if communications fail, they would still know what local resources are available.

Cllr Michael Shannon  supported the motion noting that the council "have learned a lot since Storm Eowyn" but with communications having been down in West Clare for two to three days in most areas, action from the council is needed as the county is "starting this time of year again" and the "council are no better off now" in their preparedness for these extreme weather events.