“We were not ready for this” says Gurn as Manorhamilton “hammered” by storm

In a timely motion, Cllr Felim Gurn this week asked what the winter protocol was when trees fall and lights go out after 5pm on a Friday or a bank holiday weekend at the latest Manorhamilton municipal district meeting.

He also asked that in instances of flooding, “who do we contact because fire services are the last ones to be told that they are needed in certain situations.”

A report by the Roads office said that “per the Roads Based Incident Plan, all emergency calls should be directed to West Regional Control Centre, Castlebar, (Camp West), at 999 /112, and they are aware of the appropriate emergency response to contact.”

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr Gurn said that due to the storm, people couldn't contact each other on their phones.

“We were not ready for this. I was getting something to eat and the power went out at around 7.45pm. I was on the phone to the ESB for an hour and a half,” he said.

He said that Manorhamilton was “hammered” by the storm.

“I went out on the roads this morning and there were trees down. It was pure dark at 8.30am.”