TRIBUTES have been paid to the Emergency Services and staff of Limerick City and County Council for their work during and after last week’s devastating storm.
The emergency response has been described by the local authorities as “one of the largest ever undertaken” with hundreds of council staff and emergency service personnel engaged throughout the city and county from the original emergency response to the ongoing clean-up operations.
Limerick Fire and Rescue Service responded to over 220 weather-related emergency incidents in the 48-hour period following the storm. The majority of the incidents responded to by the Fire Service, backed by Gardaí, related to fallen trees, structural damage to buildings and road traffic incidents.
Staff from the Council’s Roads, Environment, Housing and Parks Departments also helped clear fallen trees and debris from roads, public amenity areas and parks. Elsewhere, Limerick Civil Defence assisted the HSE in relocating patients from the University of Limerick Hospital to various other locations during the storm, while Water Services staff worked around the clock to restore water supplies to areas affected by power outages.
Mayor Kathleen Leddin said the regular participation of Council staff and the Emergency Services in cross-agency response exercises had enhanced their collective ability to respond more efficiently to major incidents.
County Council Cathaoirleach John Sheahan also commended Council staff and the Emergency Services for their professionalism and commitment.
“Much of the work was undertaken in extremely challenging conditions and I have no doubt that their efforts ensured that the threat posed to property and indeed to life was minimised,” said Cllr Sheahan.
“Last week’s severe storm, coupled with the flooding of early February in Limerick City, presented an unprecedented challenge for all emergency services personnel in Limerick. The collaborative emergency response put into action in recent weeks is a tribute to everyone involved,” he concluded.
