Laois to have severe weather hotline to deal with aftermath of Storm Éowyn

Laois County Council is setting up a severe weather hotline for the public to deal with the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

The county is braced for one of the most dangerous storms the country has ever seen with a status red wind warning coming into effect in Laois from 6am on Friday to 11am. 

A statement from the local authority on Thursday afternoon said: "Principal Response Authorities, making up the Local Co-Ordination Group, met today. Arising from the meeting, the key message to citizens in County Laois is that Storm Eowyn will be a Dangerous, Damaging and Destructive storm event. Severe winds will give rise to rare and very dangerous conditions across County Laois, late Thursday night until late Friday afternoon.

"Following severe wind gusts, significant damage to property, disruption to key public services and very dangerous conditions across the road network are highly likely. Stay at home and exercise extreme caution for this storm event, and in the aftermath. Across County Laois, significant dangers will persist for some time after the Weather Warnings have lapsed.

"Laois County Council will operate a dedicated Severe Weather Hotline, operational from 5.30am on Friday 24th January. The Hotline Number is 1800 832010. Emergency calls should be directed to 999 or 112, in the normal way."

The storm is expected to bring storm force winds with gusts in excess of 130km/h.