Storm Éowyn: Ireland asks EU for mobile power generators in emergency request for help
A landmark beech tree, which stood for several decades in Wilton , Cork, and around which the shopping centre was built and expanded, was among the casualties of Storm Eowyn. Pictures: Mike English
Ireland has lodged an emergency request for help with the EU for mobile power generators following the unprecedented damage to the electricity network during Storm Éowyn.
An estimated 402,000 people remain without power tonight, and another 300,000 could face another week without electricity after one of the worst storms to hit Ireland in living memory.
The massive power outages are now threatening the water supply to more than a quarter of a million people.
It has now been confirmed that the state has made a formal request for help through the EU’s disaster response mechanism, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), a mechanism which was activated for Spain last year in response to the flooding disaster in Valencia which claimed the lives of more than 220 people.
Ireland has made a specific request for large mobile generator capacity as ESB Networks continues to repair the “unprecedented, widespread and extensive damage” to the country’s electricity infrastructure which left 768,000 customers without power on Friday, and which is now putting the water supply to 275,000 people at risk.
“This is by far the worst storm experienced by ESB Networks both in terms of customers losing supply and the scale of damage across the network,” a spokesman said on Saturday evening.
Ireland’s European Commissioner, Michael McGrath, said he is aware of the state's application for help and is lending his full support.
The request for help was revealed by Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly who made contact today with European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who is in charge of preparedeness and crisis management, about the crisis facing parts of Ireland worst hit by the storm.
“The ERCC is already in touch with all EU member states and UCPM participating states to quickly mobilize the offers. I can assure you we will continue to work 24/7 to provide the requested assistance to Ireland asap,” Commissioner Lahbib said.
Mr Mullooly welcomed the request for help but said it should have been made sooner when Commissioner Lahbib confirmed that her emergency response coordination centre, the ERCC, has been in contact with the Irish civil protection counterparts since January 22 to offer any support needed.
The ERCC has provided analytical emergency reports to the Irish authorities on the storm impact and forecasted damage and also provided Copernicus rapid satellite mapping facilities on Friday at Ireland’s request.
But Mr Mullooly said: “It’s clear from my contacts with Commissioner Lahbib that her office was in contact with the Irish authorities on Wednesday when we knew this was going to be the worst storm in decades, so my question is why was this request for emergency assistance not made in advance?
“We knew it was going to be bad, and this mechanism is there. We should have been more proactive.
“But rather than engaging in a blame game now, I think we just need to get on with it.
“There is no appreciation in parts of Dublin about the conditions in some parts of the country, especially in rural Ireland.
“Tens of thousands of people have no power or water, they can’t make phone calls, they can't text and have no broadband.
“It’s like the 1930s living in some places, with people driving 50 miles to make a phone call.
“I am deeply concerned about people who are living in isolated areas. We just have to put measures in place to have necessary power available.
“These storms aren’t one in 100 years anymore. I think there is a business case to be made for investing in mobile generators ourselves, so that when the next storm hits, Uisce Eireann has its own generators to at least keep the water flowing.”
It comes as ESB Networks crews confirmed on Saturday that it has restored power to 366,000 customers but it said it could be next Friday before all of the remaining 300,000 customers are reconnected.
“For those customers, these will progressively have power restored over the course of the following week. This will remain dynamic and weather conditions may impact on the restoration work,” it said.
Uisce Eireann said about 120,000 people across the country have no water, and that an additional 150,000 people are now being supplied by schemes where generators have been deployed by Uisce Éireann crews.
But it said water supplies for a further 275,000 people are at risk in areas where power is yet to be restored.
The impacts are being felt nationwide, with areas without water across the North West and in counties Kerry, Clare, Tipperary, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford and Laois, the utility said.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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