Fingal County Council March 3, 2018 Storm Emma – Situation Update (11:30)

Fingal County Council’s Crisis Management Team had a Conference Call at 10.30am this morning. Updates were given in relation to situations at local, regional and national level. Met Éireann’s Red Status Warning was reduced to Orange at 7am this morning but driving condition are still hazardous and motorists are being asked to only drive if it is absolutely necessary to make the journey. High tide is due at 12.40pm so care should be taken in coastal areas. Fingal County Council’s gritting crews reported for duty at 6am this morning and ploughing and salting runs on those roads designated as Priority 1 and Priority 2 routes got underway at 7am. Additional crews moved into designated areas across the county from early morning to grit and clear pedestrian areas in towns and villages. The R108 near Dublin Airport is now passable but it is down to one lane in parts. Access to the Long Term Blue Car Park has been restored. Estuary Road and Blisetts Strand Road in Malahide will be closed until Monday due to flooding, In the Balbriggan area the main Eastern routes are open but conditions are difficult especially on the Rush to Skerries road. In the West, Oldtown to Fieldstown Bridge is impassable but Springhill to Nags Head and Naul has now been cleared. Roads in the Garristown and Oldtown areas are in poor conditions. Local famers have been very helpful in clearing roads in rural areas that are not designated as Priority Routes. All main roads in Dublin 15 are clear but extreme care should be taken on other roads. There is concern about the high level of water usage which is leading to low levels in reservoirs. Householders and other customers are urgently requested to ensure that taps are turned off and water usage minimised to help ensure that there will be need to apply restrictions later today. The Council’s public offices, libraries and graveyards will remain closed today. Public Parks are scheduled to reopen tomorrow with public buildings, recycling centres and graveyards due to reopen on Monday. Any changes to these arrangements will be posted on our social media accounts and our media bulletins. The Council continues to provide essential emergency services primarily through staff in our Operations, Water Services, Housing and Corporate Affairs Departments. Members of the public can submit reports of issues in their area to www.fixyourstreet.ie. These reports will be logged and assessed. Reports of people sleeping rough should be phoned to 1800 707 707 or posted online at http://www.homelessdublin.ie/report-rough-sleeper#1 Information is being continually posted on the Fingal Alerts app as well as our Twitter and Facebook accounts. The Crisis Management Team are scheduled to have another conference call at 8pm this evening. ENDS For further information please contact press@fingal.ie PHOTO; Road closed sign on Estuary Road, Malahide.