THE National Coordination Group met today to review the response to date, to assess the impact of the storms on infrastructure and communities and to ensure that the response of relevant goverment agencies and local authorities continues to be coordinated. Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Brian Hayes was among the attendance. Met Éireann reported that Ireland has been subject to a sequence of Atlantic storms since December 18, resulting in extreme wind conditions, episodes of heavy rainfall and lately storm surges associated with high tides and low pressure atmospheric conditions. It was noted that the new Met Éireann colour-coded weather warnings (red, orange and yellow) issued in accordance with the international meteo-alarm system was of assistance to the public, as well as to Government departments, local authorities, utilities and transport sector in understanding the threats posed by the weather situations. Safety messages had been responded to well by the public but, regrettably, one fatality was attributed to …
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