Sunday night was the calm before the storm. A mild warm
night followed by a sharp deterioration in conditions. By 1 o’clock yesterday it sounded as if a
there was a low flying jet was overhead.
Neighbours of ours lost power as trees came crashing down.
Thankfully there were no casualties in Wexford. I remember Hurricane Charlie in August 1987.
It was accompanied by heavy rain and floods.
There is little flooding today, Ophelia was chiefly a wind event. There remain homes without power in
Wexford. These will be reconnected by
ESB Networks as resources permit. The
good news is that there are no immediate problems with water supplies in
Wexford town.
I’ve heard so many stories in the last day of people calling
to neighbours to enquire about their welfare. Two neighbours played cards to
keep one another company!
That 3 people died nationally was a tragedy. However a
previous hurricane of similar size back in 1961 killed 13. The reduction in casualties must surely
result from the excellent communications using media to warn people and give
clear messages.
Schools will resume in the morning around Wexford Town. Postal
deliveries resumed today and business are re-opening even if the levels of
traffic are much lower than usual. Wexford will get back to normal and the
opera festival will start on Thursday night.
There remains a lot of fallen trees to be cleared. These
will be removed over the next few days with the priority being on main and
regional roads. In my own area a tree fell smashing a wall and the railings of
the local Garda Divisional HQ. Thankfully nobody was hurt but there will be no access
to the Rocks Lane until it is removed.
A final thought. It is only at this time we value the work
of volunteers and public service workers at all levels in protecting life and
property. For those who think that the private sector does things better, the
last few days would suggest we wake up and smell the coffee.
In the meantime if you need me to contact the council on
your behalf for any storm related damage, give me a ring.
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