Major Emergency Plan Invoked in Kilkenny City & County 3.20pm on 12/2/2014.
At 7pm on the 12th February 2014 following a meeting of the local coordination group the major emergency which was declared by the Kilkenny County Manager was stood down. The MAJOR EMERGENCY COORDINATION GROUP will remain in place to monitor developments until 10pm.
All inter urban routes to and from Kilkenny city are now open however caution is still advise. Many local roads remain blocked and will be dealt with as soon as possible.
Landowners are reminded that a large number of trees adjacent to roads are still in a dangerous condition because they have been weakened by the severe weather event. A number of minor roads have been cleared by local landowner but motorist are still advised to exercise extreme caution because there is a large amount of debris on roads which may pose a hazard to motorists. Members of the public should be acutely aware that trees which have fallen may pose and additional danger because of entangled live electrical cables.
The area surrounding Nolan Park remains closed to both traffic and pedestrians.
Although any remaining problems are within the capabilities of emergency services and local authority staff, members of the public are reminded that there are still a number of trees partially blocking roadway but emergency crews are attending to this matters.
Press Office
Update – 17.25pm
The local coordination group have met in County Hall, Superintendent Padraig Dunne, District Office Kilkenny, Mr Joe Crockett County Manager Kilkenny and Mr John Collins Senior Assistant Fire Officer.
The coordination group have strategically assessed the situation and have identified a priority list of roads to be cleared. These roads are currently closed due to fallen trees and power lines. Priority at this stage is re-opening routes to the Hospital. Bennetts Road has now re-opened to traffic.
Following roads remain closed. Kells Rd, Hebron Rd leading onto Dublin Rd, Dublin Rd at McDonagh Cross. At this stage we have no reports of serious injuries.
All roads around Nowlan Park are closed due to wind damage to roof of Nowlan Park. Public advised to avoid the area to facilitate emergency services.
The coordination group wish to make the following appeal to the public:
Avoid unnecessary travel
Stay indoors if possible
Motorists travelling home should reduce speed as debris may be scattered along their route.Press Office
Update 1 – 16.45pm
The local coordination group have met in County Hall, Superintendent Padraig Dunne, District Office Kilkenny, Mr Joe Crockett County Manager Kilkenny and Mr John Collins Senior Assistant Fire Officer.
The coordination group have strategically assessed the situation and have identified a priority list of roads to be cleared. These roads are currently closed due to fallen trees and power lines. Priority at this stage is re-opening routes to the Hospital.
Gardaí are currently escorting heavy cutting machinery in order to deal with a number of fallen trees in the county. Priority for today will be the removal of trees from roadways to enable traffic to pass. At this stage we have no reports of serious injuries.
Met Eireann have a Red Alert weather warning for Kilkenny, it is expected that the strong winds will persist for at least another two hours.
The coordination group wish to make the following appeal to the public:
Avoid unnecessary travel
Stay indoors if possible
Motorists travelling home should reduce speed as debris may be scattered along their route.Press Office
The County Manager for Kilkenny has invoked the Major Emergency Plan for Kilkenny City & County at 3.20pm this evening, 12th February 2014, due to storm weather across the county.
Superintendent Pascal Connolly, Regional Traffic Superintendent, and District Officers Kilkenny & Thomastown Districts with County Manager, Local Authority and HSE Official are attending an emergency meeting this afternoon in Kilkenny City Hall.
There have been no specific reports received of any persons injured etc. at this time due to weather conditions.
Gardaí are appealing to the public in Kilkenny to stay indoors and to avoid unnecessary travel where possible. The Emergency Services are currently dealing with in excess of 24 incidents in Kilkenny City. These involve fallen trees and fallen power lines.
The following roads are currently impassable:
College Road
Castle Road
Dublin Road (near McDonagh Junction)
Green Street
Freshford Road
Note
A Major Emergency Plan is activated when an event takes place, usually with little or no warning, causing or threatening death or injury, serious disruption of essential services or damage to property, the environment or infrastructure beyond the normal capabilities of the principal emergency services in the area in which the event occurs.
When a major emergency is declared, bodies such as An Garda Síochána, HSE, Local Authorities and other groups are immediately informed and work off the Major Emergency Plan, which details a co-ordinated response to such incidents, and outlines areas of responsibility for each agency.
Please note that this is not a training exercise. The cooperation of the media and the community with the emergency services is essential at this time.
