⚠️ Storm Éowyn - Fri 24.01.25 (**Please read Mod Instruction in OP.**)

In a lot of places the forestry grew in and around the wires as they weren’t maintained by the private forestry, is my understanding.
However there are places outside the forestry areas which were just flattened by the ferocity of the wind.

My brother just got his back today and a few other neighbours just up the road from me. Ours and the start of the lane is back since Tuesday last week. They were waiting on poles for them, so possibly there's a shortage or difficulty getting them distributed because of demand.

Shhh everyone, Communications minister Darragh O'Brien is on Radio1 about ESBN 2023 €800m profit, trees, storms, €10m's of damage done, future preparation

you'd assume that converting trees to poles requires power which requires a functioning electricity network which requires poles…et cetera

I just hope they are sourcing poles from Scandinavian/Northern European forests

It's not just poles they need to replace - transformers, voltage regulators, insulators, fuses and holders, mounting hardware, stay wires, anchors. They'll have a large stock of the stuff they need, just not enough of it. The guts of half their customers were knocked out by the storm. I would speculate they carry enough hardware to cover max 20% of their customers being affected; their suppliers will only carry a small % of what ESBN typically order ever year so feck knows what the lead times are on getting new stock.

Anyway, nothing but admiration for the guys on the ground doing the work - I know a couple of them, both retired. One came out of retirement to help out last week.

Where in cavan is he,? maybe someone can help get a pole there before the esb re-review the storm impact. I've been told they will recheck system once all are back online. They are doing a 'patch' atm...

We've learned in the last two weeks that a National Emergency or Natural Disaster will only ever be declared when it's politically convenient for the government. It didn't suit them this time, and the people of the west and northwest were left to fend for themselves.

It was scandalous that tens of thousands of pensioners were left for over a week in the cold and the dark and without any state assistance.

A proper Emergency response would have involved transport and distribution of generators and gas heaters from the South and East to vulnerable people in affected areas. And offering hotel rooms to vulnerable and elderly with no heat.

It's unfortunately clear that Cromwellian "To Hell or to Connacht" attitudes are still alive and well in Leinster House.

Dramatic drone footage showing the enormous damage the storm did to forestry in Galway. Entire forests completely flattened!

I can't imagine they've fully estimated the damages/costs related to this yet.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/02/05/downed-forestry-impacting-on-storm-eowyn-recovery-as-18000-properties-still-without-power/

Whereabouts was this @tom1ie ??

Sorry quick question for anyone here. Did anyone put in for expenses for food that would of went off during this storm. I have heard some asked but got the "Act of God" response. Surely there is proof that the ESB have not kept pace with tree cutting and updating key and core infrastructure that would of safely seen their infrastructure through these events if they had been proactive in their planning. I mean its not like they are not getting enough money out of customers back pockets in order for them to have been on the ball with this. Anyone heard anything differently

I see 4 velux windows on the roof, if that side is facing North and dermot Bannon designed it, the other side of the roof facing south is probably a complete sheet of glass 😁

Powerless the storm that shuck Ireland is on at 7pm rte 1

Watching it now.

It's not just statistics, numbers, it's faces. Human beings. Families. Many of the people who need power, it's not just for their job, it's to power their life dialysis machines. The wheelchairs that give folks with disabilities their independence. That poor woman whose house was destroyed, and then has to take her special needs daughter to the palliative care unit of the hospital. That's a very stressful situation for someone who's getting end of life treatment, for a child, especially a child with special needs, that's even more stressful.

On the news this evening, they showed one woman who's daughter needs a Cpap machine, as she has sleep apnea and a heart condition. Still no idea when she'll have power.

You can still feel the anger, everywhere. I absolutely pity the ESB workers, who are doing everything they can to restore power. You just know that they are getting verbal abuse, either in person, or via the phone.

I remember when Darwin happened, my mother made a point of phoning up the ESB phoneline and thanking the person at the other end of the phone. They appreciated it, and even told her they don't get many calls like that.

Oh absolutely 💯 there is still alot of anger but the workers are doing over time at this rate and it says alot if workers from 6 countries had to help as well , sadly 13 days on and 10,000 people are still without power and now after this the esb are saying electric prices may go up after the storm , I ain't surprised but can't see that going down well with the general public

However, a CPAP machine only uses 500w in an entire night and battery devices are readily available. If you really needed such machine then it would make complete sense to have such a battery. Some people have such machines but it is not a life or death issue (I have one), they need not worry, but if it is life or death then relying on the grid alone is hazardous.

Likewise there was a family on the news who were living in an hotel, who said that they were using solar and heat pump and were "entirely dependent on electricity", but if they had invested in a battery then the solar would have kept the fridge etc going, even if it might not have been sufficient to power the heat pump at full blast. Perhaps the SEAI grants should require battery storage with solar?

You don't get a battery device 'on time'. You buy a battery device or a battery UPS from the begining (if it is life or death) and make sure that it is fully charged before the storm.