CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL have confirmed it will stand down its six community response hubs and the community helpline established following Storm Éowyn.
At 4pm on Wednesday (today), the County Council will stand down the response hubs and helpline, this follows Uisce Éireann confirming the restoration of water to the entire county in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.
An ‘emergency meeting’ was held by Clare County Council, three days after the Storm which led to the creation of the hubs in Ennistymon, Kilrush, Flagmount, Tulla, Cross and Doolin/Lisdoonvarna. The hubs also provided people with facilities for personal hygiene and power sources, as well as access to information, ordering a hot meal and shelter from the cold.
The local authority led and coordinated a local level response to the needs of people who were significantly impacted by Storm Éowyn through the helpline and hubs. The helpline was activated from 8am to 8pm to provide advice, access to a warm meal and connecting people with the supports available for the duration of the humanitarian response.
Interim Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Carmel Kirby stated, “Clare County Council worked closely with other bodies in the region in responding to this unprecedented weather event. I would like to thank the ESB, Úisce Éireann, the HSE, An Garda Síochana, the Department of Social Protection and our colleagues in the Civil Defence for their work, dedication and co-operation over the last number of days.
“We must also acknowledge the great work done by local groups, volunteers and businesses in responding to the need of neighbours and the wider community, and the hospitality sector which opened its doors in the immediate aftermath. Our helpline and services also relied on our elected representatives and community groups as a vehicle for information flow, reporting issues through our helpline, our hubs and other channels,” she said.
