National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Review Report on Severe Weather Events 2017 - 2018 Prepared by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government housing.gov.ie National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management REVIEW REPORT ON SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS 2017 – 2018 D/HPLG Severe Weather Review Report CONTENTS Contents 2 Acknowledgements 6 1 INTRODUCTION TO REPORT ....................................................................... 7 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Three Flooding Events ................................................................................. 8 1.3 Ex-Hurricane Ophelia ................................................................................... 8 1.4 Snow Storm Emma .................................................................................... 10 1.5 Heat Wave and Drought Conditions – June August 2018 ......................... 12 2. DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN IRELAND .............. 14 2.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 14 2.2 Categories of Emergency ........................................................................... 14 2.3 Emergency Management in Ireland ........................................................... 16 2.4 Local Level Co-ordination .......................................................................... 19 2.5 National Level Co-ordination ...................................................................... 21 2.6 Co-ordination between Local and National Levels ..................................... 23 3. WEATHER AND FLOOD FORECASTS; ADVISORIES, ALERTS, WARNINGS AND INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC ............................................................. 25 3.1 Met Éireann’s Weather Forecasting Service .............................................. 25 3.2 Met Éireann’s Public Service and Severe Weather Forecasting System ... 26 3.3 The Met Éireann Weather Warning System ............................................... 27 3.4 Public Safety Advice .................................................................................. 29 3.5 Conclusions and Recommendations regarding Met Éireann’s Weather Forecasting .......................................................................................................... 30 D/HPLG Severe Weather Review Report 4. THREE FLOODING EVENTS ....................................................................... 35 4.1 Flood Forecasting in Ireland ....................................................................... 35 4.2 Support for Persons Affected by Flooding .................................................. 37 4.3 Pluvial/Fluvial Flooding In Donegal/Inishowen Peninsula - 22/ 23 August 2017 38 4.4 Fluvial Flooding Event at Mountmellick on 22 November 2017 .................. 47 4.5 Tidal Surge Flooding at Galway City – 2 January 2018 ............................. 49 4.6 Flooding Specific Conclusions and Recommendations ............................. 55 5. EX-HURRICANE OPHELIA – 16 OCTOBER 2017 ....................................... 60 5.1 Introduction to Ex-Hurricane Ophelia ......................................................... 60 5.2 Forecasting the Storm ................................................................................ 60 5.3 Unusual Features in the Formation of Ex-Hurricane Ophelia ..................... 63 5.4 Forecasts and Advisories ........................................................................... 64 5.5 RED Level Wind Warnings ......................................................................... 65 5.6 Preparation for the Arrival of Ex-Hurricane Ophelia ................................... 68 5.7 Monitoring the Storm’s Progress ................................................................ 75 5.8 Monitoring the Storm Damage ................................................................... 76 5.9 Reports of Fatalities .................................................................................. 77 5.10 Co-ordinated Local Emergency Response ................................................. 78 5.11 Co-ordinating the National Response ........................................................ 79 5.12 Public Information ...................................................................................... 81 5.13 The Storm begins to Ease .......................................................................... 82 5.14 Political Participation in NECG ................................................................... 83 5.15 The Immediate Aftermath of the Storm ...................................................... 84 5.16 A Summary of the Storm’s Impact .............................................................. 86 5.17 National Co-ordination of the Recovery Effort ............................................ 89 D/HPLG Severe Weather Review Report 5.18 Conclusions and Recommendations in Relation to Storm Events .............. 92 6. SNOW STORM EMMA 1 – 4 MARCH 2018 .................................................. 98 6.1 Weather Development ............................................................................... 98 6.2 Warning Phase and Preparations ............................................................ 100 6.3 National and Local Coordination of the Response ................................... 100 6.4 Snowfalls .................................................................................................. 102 6.5 Snow Storm Emma .................................................................................. 104 6.6 The Thaw ................................................................................................ 107 6.7 Getting Back to Normal ............................................................................ 107 6.8 Restoration of Normal Activity in Worst Affected Areas ........................... 109 6.9 Impacts of Heavy Snow across the Sectors ............................................. 110 7. HOT WEATHER AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS – JUNE - AUG 2018 ...... 115 7.1 Weather ................................................................................................... 115 7.2 Impacts of High Temperatures/ Prolonged Drought ................................ 116 7.3 Water Supply ........................................................................................... 117 7.4 Poulaphouca Reservoir ............................................................................ 119 7.5 Wildland Fires .......................................................................................... 120 7.6 Water Safety ............................................................................................ 127 7.7 Environmental Issues ............................................................................... 128 7.8 Fisheries.................................................................................................. 130 7.9 Conclusions............................................................................................. 130 8. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES .................. 132 8.1 Critical Infrastructure ................................................................................ 132 8.2 Electricity Supplies and ESB Networks after ex-Hurricane Ophelia ......... 134 8.3 Irish Water ................................................................................................ 139 D/HPLG Severe Weather Review Report 8.4 Impact of Storms Dylan and Eleanor on Critical Infrastructure ................. 140 8.5 The Need for Critical Infrastructure Protection ......................................... 142 8.6 Identifying “Essential Services” ................................................................ 144 8.7 Food Supply ............................................................................................. 145 8.8 Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................ 146 9. SOCIETAL RESILIENCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ......................... 148 9.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 148 9.2 Developing Societal Resilience ................................................................ 149 9.3 Understanding the Approach to Managing Weather Crises in Ireland ...... 150 9.4 Advice for Employers ............................................................................... 152 9.5 Safety of Staff at Work during Severe Weather ........................................ 154 9.6 Business Continuity Management ............................................................ 155 9.7 Maintaining Emergency Services ............................................................. 156 9.8 Safety of Emergency Services Personnel ................................................ 157 9.9 Public Safety and the Impact of Severe Weather on Sporting and Crowd Events 160 9.10 Self-Endangering Behaviour .................................................................... 161 9.11 Funding of Emergency Response and Recovery ..................................... 162 9.12 Assessing the Costs of Severe Weather .................................................. 164 9.13 EU Solidarity Funding .............................................................................. 165 9.14 Transitioning from Recovery to Normal Mode .......................................... 165 D/HPLG Severe Weather Review Report Acknowledgements On behalf of