UP to 100,000 people could still be without power until next week as Ireland is battered again by new Storm Herminia.
ESB Networks has restored electricity to 438,000 homes, farms and businesses as the repair operation continues following record-breaking 180kph winds from Storm Eowyn on Friday.
However, 330,000 customers remain without supply.
By next Friday, ESB said the “vast majority” of those impacted by Storm Eowyn will have their power back.
The energy provider expects the remaining approximately 100,000 customers will progressively have their supply restored over the course of the following week.
ESB crews have continued to work to restore power supplies in difficult conditions caused by Storm Herminia over the weekend.
Technicians from England and France have been called in to help restore power to homes and businesses across the country.
Some 768,000 were without power during the peak of the destruction.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said every effort is being made to restore power and water supplies, describing the destruction caused as “unprecedented”.
Kacper Dudek, 20, died when a tree fell on his car in Co Donegal early on Friday morning.
Met Eireann has issued a yellow warning for rain for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford.
And a yellow warning for wind was put in place from 6am yesterday for counties Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Munster and Galway.
There were also yellow warnings for wind from 11am yesterday for counties Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Mayo and Sligo, and from 11pm last night for counties Cork, Kerry and Waterford.
Weather chiefs also warned that Storm Herminia was approaching from a different direction than Storm Eowyn – bringing more chaos to other parts.
And while the new storm won’t bring winds nearly as strong, it was still causing havoc in the southeast yesterday.
Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly said said temperatures will range from -3C to 8C.
He said: “Unfortunately, Storm Herminia is bringing some rough weather to the south coast, already gusting to 98kph at Roches Point and 94kph at Sherkin Island.
“There could be some issues at Dublin Airport. It is a south-east wind direction, which is a different wind direction than what we had from Storm Eowyn.
“It may well bring some new power outages. So stay safe and hope the lights stay on if you have them.”
‘EXTENSIVE’ DAMAGE
Tanaiste Simon Harris said the Irish Defence Forces were assisting ESB Network with helicopters to help restore power.
He said the Civil Defence is also on standby across the country.
The Government is set to make financial support available to families and businesses.
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said technicians from England are helping ESB workers, and further support is coming from France.
He said the main focus this week is around restoring power and water.
He described the damage as “extensive”, but said they are “throwing everything at it”.
Housing Minister James Browne said all efforts are being made reach everyone affected by power outages.
He said: “We have helicopters flying across the country trying to identify where wires are down and what supports need to be put in place.”
As well as power cuts, approximately 100,000 people across the country still had no water by lunchtime today.
An additional 112,000 people are now being supplied by generators that have been deployed by Uisce Éireann crews.
Supplies for a further 126,000 people are at risk in areas where power is yet to be restored.
Areas most impacted were along the West Coast and Midlands including Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Donegal and Longford.
Uisce Eireann repair crews were again on the ground across the country yesterday working to restore water supplies and operations at wastewater plants.
IRISH WEATHER WARNINGS EXPLAINED
MET Eireann issues three categories of weather warnings, yellow, orange and red.
Each warning signifies a different danger level and different actions may need to be taken depending on what the weather event is and how bad it is expected to be.
Yellow weather warnings, which are usually used for localised danger, urges people who may be affected to “be aware”.
Met Eireann meteorologist Siobhan Ryan explained: “A Status Yellow weather alert is given to warn those at risk from certain weather because of their location and/or their activity.
“It advises these people to take preventative action. Expected weather conditions in a status yellow alert do not pose an immediate risk to the general population.”
A Status Orange alert sends the message that people should “be prepared”.
Ryan said: “A Status Orange weather warning is given before expected weather conditions that could significantly impact people, property and activity in an area.
“People in the affected areas should prepare appropriately now for the anticipated conditions.”
Status Red weather warnings are the most significant of the three and therefore carry the most cause for concern, with people under the alert urged to “take action”.
Ryan said: “A Status Red severe weather warning is rarely issued but when it is, people in the areas expected to be affected should take action to protect themselves and/or their properties.”
These three warning categories are issued whenever certain weather conditions are expected within a 48 hour window.
Head of Water Operations at Uisce Eireann, Margaret Attridge noted that while positive progress had been made on Saturday night, the number of people experiencing loss of supply due to power outages remained significant.
She said: “This unprecedented storm event has had a severe impact on our water and wastewater network nationwide.
“Our crews are on the ground in all impacted areas working to restore water services as quickly as possible, but given the extent of the damage to the power network, it may take some time before full service is restored everywhere.
“We apologise to customers who have been without water for a few days and ask for the public’s continued patience during this challenging time, some customers are also operating with restricted service as treated water storage reservoirs and networks recharge.
“In locations where water supplies have been impacted for longer periods, we are deploying alternative water supplies.
“Details of these supplies and their locations are being posted across our website and social media channels as they become available.”
‘MORE UNSETTLED WEATHER ON THE WAY’
And households were today warned that there was no sign of an end to the challenging weather conditions.
Met Eireann forecaster Linda Hughes confirmed there’s “more unsettled weather on the way” as several yellow weather warnings are in place.
She said: “Sunday is going to be a wet and at times, very windy day.
“Highest amounts of rain in the south and south east, with some spot flooding possible.
“So yellow rain warning for there, starting at 5am continuing until 5pm.
“A yellow wind warning then for counties, Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Munster and Galway, from 6am until 6pm -starting a bit later at 11am then for the North West for Louth and Meath.
“So further, very strong gusts may cause some further damage.”
A large low pressure system will bring some “very strong winds and heavy rain” in the early part of the week.
Our weather is “staying unsettled” tomorrow, with further “strong winds and some heavy rain”.
The low pressure system will begin to move.
The meteorologist added: “It is going to start moving away to the northeast on Tuesday, so an improving picture during Tuesday into Tuesday night.
“But we may see another low come near Ireland on Wednesday.”
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met yesterday and insisted all efforts are made to restore power, water, telecommunications and other services to homes, farms and businesses following Storm Eowyn.
But warned that the ongoing weather difficulties would continue to make travelling conditions challenging.
‘SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE NORMALITY’
Keith Leonard, Chair of the NECG, said: “With yellow weather warnings in place for much of the country today and into tomorrow, we are again going to see dangerous travelling conditions.
“These strong and gusty winds may cause further damage to already weakened structures and trees – so please take extra care if travelling, and remember to never approach fallen or damaged wires as they are likely to be live and very dangerous.
“The ESB continues to make a huge effort to restore power to those still affected by Storm Eowyn. The damage and disruption to our infrastructure network was unprecedented and the scale of the challenge towards recovery is significant.
“While all available resources are being used to restore power and services as fast as possible, many people may unfortunately be waiting several days before normality returns.
“For those still awaiting a restoration of power, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group is helping Local Authorities to co-ordinate the humanitarian response at a local level, with efforts being made to provide support, assistance and facilities for those who have been significantly impacted, with the needs of the most vulnerable being prioritised.
“We remain focused on providing cross-Government support to these recovery efforts – making sure that any organisation that can help is available to do so.”
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