.
At the launch of the ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign were, back row, from left: Priscilla Lynch, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare; David O’Sullivan, Interagency Emergency Mgt. Office; Cllr. Damien Boylan, deputising for the Lord Mayor of Cork; Inp. James Hallahan, An Garda Siochana; Kieran Minihan, Ambulance Service; Cllr. Christopher O’Sullivan, Mayor of the County of Cork; Niall Kelleher, Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, and John Donegan, Sen Eng. Cork Co. Co.; Front (left) Ruth Buckley, Dep. Chief Executive, Cork City Council and Kevin Higgins, Cork Fire Service. Photo: Brian Lougheed
THE regional “Be Winter Ready” campaign for Cork and Kerry was launched last week.
The awareness campaign is an inter-agency initiative across Cork and Kerry involving the HSE, Kerry County Council, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, local Fire Services and An Garda Síochána.
The public awareness campaign was launched at St Mary’s Primary Care Centre in Gurranbraher, Cork and was attended by the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Niall Kelleher.
Continued below…
.
“Be Winter Ready” is a nationwide co-ordinated campaign involving statutory services which emphasises the regional coordination and preparation in place in relation to severe winter weather events and where a response to severe weather is required on a cross-county border basis.
The aim is to raise public awareness about the challenges which winter can present and to advise individuals, homeowners, businesses and the wider community about the steps they can take to prepare for adverse weather like freezing conditions, snow and ice, storms and flooding.
The ”Be Winter Ready” booklet, which contains tips and advice for homeowners, motorists, businesses and the elderly, and which is published by the Office of Emergency Planning, is available at offices of Kerry County Council and on the homepage of the council’s website.
Kerry County Council is prepared for dealing with severe weather over the winter season through its Severe Weather Assessment Team, which assesses and advises the public based on weather forecasts from Met Éireann.
The council also makes preparations annually for the salting of roads and footpaths, inter-agency responses to emergencies as required, and public communications to advise the public about travel disruption.
Cllr Kelleher said Kerry County Council is working hand in hand with An Garda Síochana, Kerry Fire Service, Kerry Civil Defence, and the Health Service Executive to meet the various challenges caused by adverse weather conditions.
“We ask everyone to prepare for winter weather conditions and listen out for forecasts and warnings. The cooperation of the public is essential in ensuring that any issues which arise can be deal with speedily and effectively.”
