NEED TO KNOW

■ The winterready.ie website provides practical advice and contact details for the main services that provide help in extreme weather events.

■ Some local authorities provide a pre-registered SMS textmessaging service which you can sign up for. Check your council’s website, with contact details also available at www.housing.gov.ie.

■ Monitor Twitter and Facebook for information about your area, as well as radio stations.

■ All information from the transport operators, HSE and other essential services is available at www.gov.ie.

■ Check www.independent.ie for live updates and advice throughout the day.

■ For information on poweroutages, check www. esbpowercheck.ie. Phone 1850 372 999 to report outages.

■ To check if public transport services continue to operate, check the operators’ websites, including www.dublinbus.ie (01 8734222), www.irishrail.ie (01 8366222), www.luas.ie (1850 300 604 or 01 4614911) and www.buseireann.ie (1850 836 611).

■ Also consult the Department of Transport at www.dttas.ie and the National Transport Authority at www.transportforireland.ie for further information. Also check social media.

■ For school transport, check www.buseireann.ie or call 1850 836 611.

■ For school closures, contact your local school.

■ Information about road conditions can be found on the three websites of Transport Infrastructure Ireland at www. tii.ie, www.tiitraffic.ie and www. winterready.ie.

■ In the event of a major emergency, dial 112 or 999.