LOST DAY THE
»»Public urged to remain indoors for their safety »»Schools and transport hit in Red weather alerts
Bus & rail services axed across country
High streets empty as businesses shut
Airports ground all flights until Saturday
Status Red warning is extended to 6pm
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has addressed the nation urging everyone to stay at home until Storm Emma and the Beast from the East passes.
He made an impassioned plea for people to remain indoors from 4pm yesterday until 3pm today as the worst blizzard since 1982 struck.
After he spoke a Status Red warning issued by Met Eireann for Munster and Leinster was extended to 6pm.
Mr Varadkar spoke at the National Emergency Coordination Centre group which revealed there will be no rail services in the country today.
The weather fronts clashed over the southern coasts yesterday afternoon before sweeping across the country overnight, with the big freeze not set to clear until this evening.
Mr Varadkar said public safety is the Government’s greatest priority, adding: “We are facing extreme blizzard-like conditions across the country from 4pm today.
“Winds of up to 100kmh will persist with heavy snow and this could result in zero visibility and white-out conditions.
“Snow will gather in deep drifts and it’s not safe to be outside in such conditions, no one should be on the roads and we’re asking everyone to be home and safe by 4pm and to remain indoors until the storm has passed tomorrow.”
Irish Rail’s Barry Kenny told the meeting the company cancelled all rail operations as most routes operate out of the main stations in Dublin, Leinster and Munster where the worst of the weather is due to strike.
Met Eireann’s Evelyn Cusack warned of the unpredictability of the Red Alert weather systems but was optimistic today will see a “dramatic improvement” with temperatures rising above freezing and to 1C or 2C.
Gardai and emergency services were working double shifts as they dealt with the unprecedented weather event that forced the closure of all schools and cancellation of public transport.
Officers in the Dublin city centre district had been warned to bring overnight bags and prepare to be on duty for long periods.
In other areas confusion reigned as initially there was no provision of hotel rooms for gardai.
This was solved yesterday morning as the night shift units finished.
However, reports from multiple locations said some gardai travelling in from the commuter belt had struggled to get to work with the dangerous road conditions in rural areas.
Many officers were ordered by management to work upwards of 19-hour shifts with 15-hour shifts common across the country. A source said: “Members are looking after roads and have been conducting work like bringing meals to elderly people stuck in their homes.
“Community policing units have also been out on foot calling to vulnerable elderly people to check on their welfare.”
It is understood reports of crime had fallen during the blizzards but officers continued to deal with sudden deaths and road traffic accidents.
Meanwhile, HSE workers have been told they will receive pay and emergency leave if they are unable to arrive into work.
Health Minister Simon Harris tweeted: “Important message for health service staff. Anyone who cannot get to work or whose work place is closed will receive emergency
Snow will gather in drifts and it’s not safe to be outside LEO VARADKAR YESTERDAY
leave with pay & will not have to make up time. @HSELIVE will find way to acknowledge efforts of all who are working & keeping vital services going” Ambulance and Fire Brigade personnel continued working throughout the heavy snow attending emergencies. Defence Force drivers were employed to ferry patients to dialysis appointments and the Air Corps remained on stand- by to fly much-needed supplies to isolated areas. The Defence Forces have deployed 250 soldiers and 85 vehicles to confront Storm Emma. Four-wheel drive SUVS, specialist snowplough and logistics vehicles were used in a range of tasks to support the primary response agencies and local authorities in the past 36 hours.
There are currently close to 100 Defence Forces personnel and 30 vehicles deployed in Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, Meath, Cork, Kerry, Kildare, Dublin and Donegal.
An Army spokesman said: “The majority of taskings are in support of the HSE ensuring key staff can get to hospitals and nursing homes.
“We have been assisting palliative care nurses reaching their patients in the community as well as transporting the likes of dialysis patients to essential treatments and important drugs to Crumlin Children’s Hospital. Defence Forces personnel are also deployed in support to An Garda Siochana for mobility operations, supporting local county councils to assist in clearing key transport hubs and providing meals on wheels services in the community.”
Minister of State Paul Kehoe paid tribute to military staff braving the stormy conditions.
He said: “I want to commend the work carried out by the Defence Forces and the Civil Defence.
“There has been important collaboration between the Defence Forces and primary response agencies such as the HSE. This has meant patients have been able to receive the care they need during Storm Emma.”
THOUSANDS of flights have been grounded after Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports shut down yesterday.
Airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus revealed they won’t resume flights until Saturday morning due to treacherous weather conditions.
Dublin Airport said yesterday: “Airlines suspending flight operations Dublin Airport from 3pm to 4pm today due to impact of Storm Emma.
“Aerlingus and Ryanair resuming flights on Sat am. Unlikely to be any flights tomorrow.
“Given the Red Weather Alert for later today and tomorrow, it is unlikely other airlines will operate to or from Dublin Airport on Friday and they are likely to resume operations on Saturday morning.
“We will have snow crews working today and tomorrow to continue to clear the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking stands and apron areas for our airline customers’ planned resumption of services on Saturday morning. Please contact your airline for the latest information in relation to the status of you flight.
“We apologise for the inconvenience the adverse weather has caused to passengers.”
Cork Airport said in a statement yesterday: “Cork Airport remains closed and both Ryanair and Aer Lingus have cancelled their flights for the remainder of today, Thursday March 1. Aer Lingus and Ryanair will also not operate from Cork Airport tomorrow, Friday March 2. Both expect to resume a normal schedule on Saturday March 3.
“Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights and any travel advice on rebooking or refunds directly with their airline.”
Elsewhere, Shannon Airport has also pulled down the shutters until Saturday.
The airport said yesterday: “Due to full flight cancellations by our scheduled carriers, and in light of the Red weather alert for the area, Shannon Airport has decided to close the airport from 6pm this evening.
“The airport will reopen, weather permitting, at 5am on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, a number of businesses and services closed their doors or didn’t operate yesterday as Storm Emma brought the country to a standstill.
Shops and supermarket chains stopped serving as blizzard conditions kicked in.
Tesco closed its doors at 2pm and said it would reopen today subject to weather and all trading hours will be kept under review on a localised basis.
Spokeswoman Christine Heffernan added: “We’re closing all stores at 2pm today in line with the guidance from the Government to ensure all of our colleagues have time to get home safely.
“We’re really proud of our teams who’ve worked really hard this week to