So far, so good – but we cannot drop our guard

WE HAVE done well. The public service workers were heroic and unstoppable in their efforts to keep things going. There was a refreshing renewal of community spirit spreading neighbourly help. The public service messaging was consistently good, the news organisations steadfastly kept pumping out the necessary information, nationally and locally, to help keep people away from harm. Best of all, the vast bulk of people took the advice to stay as safe as they could.

The heavy snows, cross-cut with Storm Emma, posed serious threats to life and limb. The response was wellmanaged by the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, guided by Seán Hogan.

The emergence of professional people in the various echelons of the public service explaining what was happening, the official responses, and the how and why, has been very refreshing. It has taken the political blamegame out of something which requires a pragmatic and swift response to problems.

There was a surprising development on Friday when certain supermarkets were looted in Dublin. It was a minority action by a reprehensible group. But it also reminded us that policing and security in these extraordinary circumstances must also be given closer attention. Most of us will hope those convicted in relation to these disgraceful crimes will receive condign punishment. Given that we are entering an era of “extraordinary weather events”, a signal message on criminality must be put out by the justice system.

So, now comes the thawing of huge volumes of snow in so many areas across the land. This poses new risks — not least the dangers of dropping our guard.