Goverment Failure in current Weather crisis

BennyLava · 07-01-2010 11:20am #1

Things couldn't be more different from the last time Ireland faced weather conditions like these

"
IN the big freeze of January 1982, temperatures dropped so low that home-heating oil froze in tanks and blocks of ice floated down the River Liffey.
Temperatures plummeted to -15C, and things were so bad that the Canadian government donated six snowmobiles to the nation.
The Irish Independent reported on Monday, January 11, that the government had told cash-strapped local authorities that a "blank cheque" was offered to "get the nation moving again".
But the following day, matters had not improved. 'We're still stuck -- the big freeze drags on', the lead story of January 12 said. But the next day, the Army had arrived to clear the streets.
'Storm Troopers -- Government bring in the Army ice-breakers', the paper reported.
The then-Tanaiste and Minister for Energy Michael O'Leary took on the mantle of 'Minister for Snow', but four days after the country was hit Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald returned from his Tenerife sun holiday to take charge. The entire country was hit with snow storms on Friday, January 8, with 26cm recorded at Dublin Airport. In areas where there was drifting, the snow was up to 1.5 metres deep. The storm was so bad that hundreds of people were trapped inside Dublin Airport as the access roads were piled high with snowdrifts. Hundreds of cars were abandoned on the Naas dual carriageway and the lowest observed temperature was recorded at Glasnevin in Dublin on January 12 -- an Arctic -19.6C.
The response of the Government was vastly different. Instead of local authorities being tasked with keeping the country moving, the Government set up an emergency committee to co-ordinate efforts. Mr Fitzgerald ordered an immediate review of the strategy four days into the crisis, and 500 soldiers were drafted on to the streets of Dublin to clear snow. "

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/storm-troopers-fought-1982-freeze-2002695.html

What are the government doing this time S.F.A., things really need to change in this country.

RHunce · 07-01-2010 11:22am

while at a not so long length for other forums, methinks it's too long for a read in AH

NEXT!

AnonoBoy · 07-01-2010 11:25am

Brian Cowen salted my driveway yesterday so I'm happy enough.

Thanks Senor Cowen!

dambarude · 07-01-2010 11:28am

Surely Mary Harney could block the snow in some way?

Run_to_da_hills · 07-01-2010 11:28am

I now blame the Eu for not helping us with the crisis, they control the weather. :mad:

super_furry · 07-01-2010 11:29am

That was more than slightly different to what's going on now. Two inches of snow against 1.5m drifts. People in suburbs were trapped in their homes for weeks and had to have food and milk air-lifted in back then. Now, it's cold and a bit slippy.

funk-you · 07-01-2010 11:29am

Not exactly comparible, it's not -19.6 and there's not 1.5m of snow. It's just a bit of snow, ther roads need gritting and a few extra measures put in place but it's not armageddon. Chill out.

-Funk

Captain Havoc · 07-01-2010 11:30am

What's this standstill carp, I made it from my home in Kilkenny to my work in Carlow this morning because I'm not a numpty and took the train, a lot (not all) of people are using this as an excuse to scive because they are wussies, some people don't realise how not severe this weather is, it's a bit snow. If you have taken the day off enjoy it as it may be some time before we get snow like this again.

Now to go and fire some snowballs at people as no one is coming near the shop today.

super_furry · 07-01-2010 11:30am

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I now blame the Eu for not helping us with the crisis, they control the weather. :mad:

I wish I knew for certain you were taking the piss with this.

seamus · 07-01-2010 11:37am

It's not a crisis or emergency.

It's a bit of snow. Stop listening to the media and their hyping-up bull****.

If we spend €50m on equipment for something that occurs once every couple of years and doesn't have any major effect on the country aside from a few days off school and work, the media would be wailing about money wasting and jobs for the boys.

Just get on with life and stop making a big fncking drama about every piddly little thing. I got home last night, I got into work today, aside from things taking a little longer, my life nor anyone I know's life has not been affected in any major way. So stop panicking and get on with it.

Jesus Christ.

ibarelycare · 07-01-2010 11:44am

BennyLava wrote: »

...Minister for Energy Michael O'Leary ...

No way!

super_furry · 07-01-2010 11:50am

Anway, http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0107/weather.html

"A Government emergency response committee is to meet this morning to discuss the ongoing problems caused by the cold snap.

The committee is made up of representatives from the departments of transport, environment, health education, the Taoiseach and other agencies."

ninebeanrows · 07-01-2010 11:52am

The difference between todays cold Spell and 1982 is that we just havent got a big widespread snowfall.

It has been exceptionally cold for a prolonged period of time however and if we did get a foot dumping of snow this winter would be worse than 1982 but at the moment that is looking unlikely at this time although the cold weather could yet cling on for weeks.

douglashyde · 07-01-2010 11:54am

only the Irish could not enjoy a bit of snow!!

Archeron · 07-01-2010 12:00pm

I got a snow day, I got a snow day.....

Not that bad to be honest. I dont want to spend 4 hours getting home again today, so I was told not to come in and I didnt argue as I can work from home. I've checked on elderly neighbours, they're all fine and have my number if they need anything, so bar slidey car crashes and slips, I'm actually quite enjoying this.

Walking through Tallaght yesterday, everybody had a big smile on their faces, young and old alike, and 50 year old men and women were throwing snowballs at each other. And in a pleasant Christmas card way as well, not a scobie causing damage kind of way.

Its cheering a lot of people up, at least its not the depressing grey that January normally brings.

Yes, I'll be glad when its gone, but in the meantime, LETS MAKE SNOW MEN!!!!

mike65 · 07-01-2010 12:02pm

Emergency response commmmmitt-eeeeee set up after 3 weeks of freezing weather? Well done lads.

mathie · 07-01-2010 12:03pm

douglashyde wrote: »

only the Irish could not enjoy a bit of snow!!

Did you dream up this response all on your own or did you consult 'Dr Cliches Enormous Book of Cliches'?

ibarelycare · 07-01-2010 12:03pm

Weathercheck wrote: »

The difference between todays cold Spell and 1982 is that we just havent got a big widespread snowfall.

It has been exceptionally cold for a prolonged period of time however and if we did get a foot dumping of snow this winter would be worse than 1982 but at the moment that is looking unlikely at this time although the cold weather could yet cling on for weeks.

What about the snow that's forecast for the weekend? Will there not be much?

weldoninhio · 07-01-2010 12:08pm

Yeah!! Its all media hype. Dublin Bus just left me and hundreds more stranded last night by pulling all services at 4pm yesterday afternoon due to the hype!!!

RATM · 07-01-2010 12:12pm

seamus wrote: »

It's not a crisis or emergency.

It's a bit of snow. Stop listening to the media and their hyping-up bull****.

If we spend €50m on equipment for something that occurs once every couple of years and doesn't have any major effect on the country aside from a few days off school and work, the media would be wailing about money wasting and jobs for the boys.

Just get on with life and stop making a big fncking drama about every piddly little thing. I got home last night, I got into work today, aside from things taking a little longer, my life nor anyone I know's life has not been affected in any major way. So stop panicking and get on with it.

Jesus Christ.

You wouldn't even need to spend €50 million to buy 20 or 30 snow ploughs and set them to work 24/7 for a week.
And the total cost to the economy of this bad weather so far has been reported as €80 million so its really a no-brainer to have this type of equipment at our disposal.
But then again our government have no-brains which explains why we have no snow ploughs.

I bet every single Polish person living here is laughing their heads off at the Irish response to this 'emergency'. If this was Poland they'd have the army out clearing the snow 24/7. Job done.

Sam Kade · 07-01-2010 12:14pm

How the hell is this weather a crisis? A bit of frost and snow and people that can't deal with it must find someone to blame. Get over it. I heard some idiot on the radio the other day saying that it was a national disaster, he must be some 12 year old that never before saw frost or snow. And these people that think salt is magic and that the council must put it up to their doorway in case they might slip :rolleyes:

Hank_Jones · 07-01-2010 12:17pm

ibarelycare wrote: »

No way!

It's not THAT Michael O'Leary.

He would have been about 20 years of age at that stage.

It's this one : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_O%27Leary_%28politician%29

ibarelycare · 07-01-2010 12:19pm

Hank_Jones wrote: »

It's not THAT Michael O'Leary.

He would have been about 20 years of age at that stage.

It's this one : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_O%27Leary_%28politician%29

I know

Size=everything · 07-01-2010 12:20pm

RATM wrote: »

I bet every single Polish person living here is laughing their heads off at the Irish response to this 'emergency'. If this was Poland they'd have the army out clearing the snow 24/7. Job done.

Polish friend was just laughing this morning about how theres not even a 1/4 of an inch of snow and the city is essentially shut down. Shops closing early, bus routes stopped, cars going literally 5mph etc.

BostonB · 07-01-2010 12:25pm

weldoninhio wrote: »

Yeah!! Its all media hype. Dublin Bus just left me and hundreds more stranded last night by pulling all services at 4pm yesterday afternoon due to the hype!!!

Two different issue. The conditions are not bad. Its the complete failure to grit anywhere thats made the roads dangerous.

BostonB · 07-01-2010 12:26pm

Size=everything wrote: »

Polish friend was just laughing this morning about how theres not even a 1/4 of an inch of snow and the city is essentially shut down. Shops closing early, bus routes stopped, cars going literally 5mph etc.

Deeply embrassing that we can't manage a tiny bit of snow.

BostonB · 07-01-2010 12:28pm

seamus wrote: »

It's not a crisis or emergency.

It's a bit of snow. Stop listening to the media and their hyping-up bull****.

If we spend €50m on equipment for something that occurs once every couple of years and doesn't have any major effect on the country aside from a few days off school and work, the media would be wailing about money wasting and jobs for the boys.

Just get on with life and stop making a big fncking drama about every piddly little thing. I got home last night, I got into work today, aside from things taking a little longer, my life nor anyone I know's life has not been affected in any major way. So stop panicking and get on with it.

Jesus Christ.

Guess you don't know any old people who are completely stranded at home because they can't use the pavements. All for the sake of a bit of grit.

BostonB · 07-01-2010 12:32pm

I don't understand why they aren't gritting. Other times they've gritted everywhere well before a cold snap and on most roads with no problem.

I can only assume they didn't buy in grit to save money. I can't see any other reason.

Once they let the roads get a bit snow built up, it was too late. If they'd gritted at the start and kept traffic moving the snow would not have built up like it has.

RoadKillTs · 07-01-2010 12:34pm

What crisis? its only a wee drop of snow

pookie82 · 07-01-2010 12:37pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I now blame the Eu for not helping us with the crisis, they control the weather. :mad:

Wasn't that a promise of Lisbon? Vote yes and life will be awesome, i.e. you won't be snowed in ever again???

Liars.

Eoin · 07-01-2010 12:38pm

RATM wrote: »

You wouldn't even need to spend €50 million to buy 20 or 30 snow ploughs and set them to work 24/7 for a week.
And the total cost to the economy of this bad weather so far has been reported as €80 million so its really a no-brainer to have this type of equipment at our disposal.
But then again our government have no-brains which explains why we have no snow ploughs.

I'm over in the UK at the moment, and it seems to be affecting them as badly - it's cost them closer to €800 million from what I read yesterday. Lots of businesses, schools, roads are closed as well. If we had conditions like this every year, then I think a rant might be more deserved - but we don't (yet). I know the conditions are worse in the UK, but they always seem to get more extremes than us.

Goverment Failure in current Weather crisis

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