Donegal County Council urged to increase preparations for red storm warnings

Donegal County Council has been urged to increase preparations for red storm warnings by opening community centres and examining trees along roads and estates.

Cllr Tomás Seán Devine brought two separate motions regarding storm preparation to the October meeting of Letterkenny-Milford MD.

“Can this MD support me in my call that due to recent red weather alerts that it’s time to prepare for the future in opening community centres /clubs etc when orange weather alerts are in place,” he said. “I think we all agree the recent storm was very short notice being updated from orange to red and people hadn't any time to prepare to leave their unfit homes or mobiles. We are better being safe than sorry.”

The 100% Redress Party councillor highlighted that those affected by the defective concrete blocks crisis live in homes that are “deteriorating” and should have the ability to move to a “safer place” ahead of red warnings.

“It’s only a matter of time before we have a tragedy with a defective home,” said Cllr Devine.

Cllr Michael McBride seconded the motion. Cathaoirleach Ciaran Brogan also praised the “great” community centres in the county.

“In future, where a red wind warning is forecast, the Council will notify in advance of contingency plans for any issue around temporary housing need,” said Gary Martin, Economic Development, Emergency and Information Systems in a written response. “At a practical level, there is no way of knowing in advance of an incident, which areas will be impacted by an electricity outage for an extended period. This alone makes it impractical to stand up community support centres across the county in advance of an incident. 

“It is of much better value to have such facilities targeted at areas of need, with necessary support services, where they will be required for extended periods, e.g., where electricity may be off for a period beyond 48 hours.”

READ NEXT: Renewed calls for action on sewage treatment plant causing ‘pollution’ in Churchill

In a separate motion, Cllr Devine called on the council to “send someone out as a matter of urgency” to examine trees along roads and estates.

“We had some very near misses in storm Amy,” he said. “I know this has been brought up before. Surely, we have to enforce this on landowners as well. It is simply not good enough that people’s lives are in danger with trees that are showing signs that are not safe and are left to stand.

He noted that he had received a phone call about a large tree in Ballymacol that is “ready to fall”, saying that it needs “serious attention”.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Declan Meehan, who thanked council staff for their work after Storm Amy. He added that loose trees pose a “risk to life”.

David McIlwaine, Roads and Transportation said: “The Roads Team continuously monitor trees along the Road Network and where issues are identified in accordance with the hedge cutting policy follow up with the relevant landowners either by letter or verbally. Occasionally it is necessary due to safety reasons for Donegal County Council to remove trees directly and invoice landowners afterwards.”

Cllr Devine’s motions were made in the aftermath of Storm Amy, which swept the country on October 3. The orange weather alert for Donegal was upgraded to a red wind warning between 4pm and 6pm, however this was announced just over two hours before the red warning came into effect.

Cllr Devine acknowledged the two men who lost their lives in storm-related incidents in Donegal this year.

In January, 20-year-old Kacper Dudek was tragically killed when a tree fell on his car during Storm Eowyn.

Earlier this month, Tommy Connors from Letterkenny sadly lost his life after falling from a shed roof during Storm Amy.