STORM DARRAGH: Laois County Council issues update

Laois County Council is urging the public and motorists to remain vigilant as the clean up continues after Storm Darragh. 

In its latest update,  the Council said Fire Services and Roads Crews worked throughout the day to clear fallen trees and ensure that the road network is operational where possible.

The Council is urging motorists to continue to exercise caution as there may be dangers on lesser travelled routes or from trees damaged or compromised during the storm.

At 10am this morning the Council said Fire Crews had attended 50 Storm Darragh related callouts including one crash which resulted in a person had to be brought to hospital.

“There are travel related impacts across County Laois this morning arising from multiple fallen trees. Busy night for fire crews across County Laois with in excess of 50 callouts and incidents throughout the night with crews encountering other fallen trees and blockages as they progressed between calls. The majority have been made safe and cleared with the remaining requiring reassessment, and/or other assistance in daylight hours and when safe to do so. 

All major routes are passable with care, crews are continuing to work to clear lanes in a few locations on N80 and R445. Known locations have been signed or have hazard warnings put in place,” they stated. 

Laois Fire and Rescue Services said: “All stations were deployed throughout the night and tidy ups have commenced by Municipal District crews this morning as required.” 

Meanwhile, the ESB is continuing to work to restore widespread power cuts in Laois. Areas affected include Mountrath, Rosenallis, Rathdowney, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Ballyfin and Portarlington. Details of outages and estimated restoration times are available on the ESB Networks website. 

Although a Status Yellow Wind Warning for all of Ireland ended at 3pm today, the clean up is expected to take some time. 

There has been significant disruption to electricity supply throughout the country, with a greater impact than Storm Ophelia with 395,000 customers without supply as of 7am this morning and the ESB estimate it could take days before power is restored throughout the country. Teams with the assistance of Defence Forces are out repairing the damage to the network and the public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie  regarding power restoration times. 

Uisce Éireann have asked customers to conserve water in the areas which have been impacted by power outages.

ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999.