COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 14, 2022

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to report on the success of his actions to deal with recent serious weather events; will he give assurances that such plans can deal effectively with any eventuality and may we have a statement? 

REPLY:

Recent severe weather events included Storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin, and regular briefings were held by the National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) in the lead up to these to advise on potential impacts across the country. In addition to these briefings, Met Éireanns’s weather warnings are issued by email and SMS text message to relevant staff in advance of all severe weather events.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) are in contact with Local Authorities throughout the winter. Met Eireann also contact the Severe Weather Assessment Teams from across the Local Authority Sector during the winter season.

South Dublin County Council's Severe Weather Assessment Team (SWAT) meets in advance of all storms on foot of any Met Eireann Weather Warnings received. The SWAT is made up of senior staff from across the organisation. The purpose of the meeting is to assess the readiness of the council to deal with the upcoming storm and severe weather events and put in place preventative actions as required.

The SWAT Team holds a pre-winter meeting annually to plan for the winter season ahead and ensure that preparations are put in place.

South Dublin County Council  has under the Major Emergency Management Framework,  the following plans:

• Major Emergency Plan
• Flood Emergency Plan,
• Severe Weather Plan, and
• Rest Centre Plan. 

The protocols for Severe Weather are contained in the plans, and being actioned upon receipt of weather warnings from Met Éireann, are as follows:

Status Yellow: Be Aware - A general notification email is sent to relevant staff across the organisation- inspections of key infrastructure and equipment carried out by relevant departments.

Status Orange: Be Prepared - Triggers a meeting of the Severe Weather Assessment Team (SWAT) comprised of senior management across all departments, who discuss the issues particular to that weather event and agree the appropriate response/ action from each department.  

Status Red: Take Action - this should be a comparatively rare event and implies that recipients take action to protect themselves and/or their properties. The SWAT team is now a Crisis Management Team and meets as often as necessary - hourly, twice daily, etc., depending on dynamics of the weather event, possibly over the conference call facilities. National and Regional Emergency offices are likely also being updated via teleconference at this stage to facilitate inter agency cooperation between the LA, HSE and AGS.

The 2021-2022 Winter Maintenance Plan issues in November which covers information on the 7 gritting routes and also on salt barns, salt bins etc.

The Eastern Region Emergency Planning Steering and Working Groups are forums that manage Emergency Planning and Management.  These groups meet on a regular basis and are comprised of representatives from An Garda Siochana, HSE, DFB, Defence Forces, Coast Guard, Civil Defence, and the Local Authorities from DCC, SDCC, FCC, DLR, WCC, KCC.  

South Dublin County Council provides information to citizens through weather events on all available social media including our website (www.sdcc.ie ), facebook and twitter.

The national winter ready web site also has very useful information and can be found at https://www.winterready.ie/en 

As per the protocols in our Severe Weather Plan, our Severe Weather Assessment Team (SWAT), consisting of senior operational staff and our communications section, met to review our preparedness in advance of the incoming storms. Actions following these meetings included advance clearing of trash screens at culverts to prevent possible flooding, operational crews being placed on standby, and weather warnings and travel advice being reposted on our social media feeds.

It can be difficult to predict all eventualities of potential weather impacts, however, SDCC’s Severe Weather Plan, Roads Winter Maintenance Plan, Flood Management Plan, Drainage network and waterway maintenance programs, and Public Realm’s gully clearing program and rapid response to fallen trees, ensure that we are prepared as and will act in a timely fashion to any weather impacts that may occur.