Ministers McConalogue and Heydon urge ‘Safety First’ in face of impending storm Barra

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, today urged farmers, fishers and people in rural areas to be extra vigilant and take precautions as Storm Barra approaches the country. The exact impact of the storm is yet to be determined but it is important that sensible steps are taken in advance rather than when it arrives.

Minister McConalogue said:

“I am urging everyone to think safety first as we face into Storm Barra. This is set to be one of the strongest storms we have seen in some time. All life is precious, so we must take all steps to protect ourselves and each other. Farming and fishing are exposed more than most to such storms. The fishing fleet is particularly impacted as the force of the storm will be felt most along the western coastline. Fishers should take particular care, heed all weather warnings and ensure vessels are securely berthed in advance of the storm. More generally people should stay back from the shoreline and remain on high ground."

Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Farm Safety, said:

“Staying safe on the farm is the main focus of this year’s Be Winter Ready campaign. Farmers and all those in rural areas need to ensure that they are ready for the approaching storm. Farming is a high-risk occupation, and it is even more so when severe weather arrives. So, take the time to ensure that you and your farm are prepared for the approaching storm Barra. This means taking the time to do a check of the farmyard to ensure loose objects and buildings are secure. Priority is obviously the safety of people and I would reiterate the advice that care should be taken. Wait until the storm abates to check on livestock or anything that may have become loose or displaced, wear a high vis jacket, bring a mobile phone and make sure someone knows where you are going."

Minister Heydon ended by asking people to check on elderly neighbours in rural areas and, importantly, avoid any risks.

Minister Heydon also reminded landowners of the dangers of fallen trees, in particular the impact this can have on electric wires. The assessment of damage in such circumstances should only be carried out by appropriately trained professionals from the ESB. Where ESB cables are not impacted, great care should be taken in removing such trees and especially in the use of chainsaws.

For animal welfare issues connected with severe weather please keep in touch with your Teagasc adviser or contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Welfare Helpline on:

call save: 0761 064408
phone: 01 6072379

The department’s public offices in status Red areas will be closed. Please consult Met Éireann’s website for up-to-date information on areas affected.

Notes

This year’s ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign is focused on “Staying Safe on the Farm over Winter”. The Office of Emergency Planning, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, designed and produced a leaflet on farm safety. This leaflet and leaflets from previous Be Winter Ready campaigns are available on the winterready.ie website.

The main objectives of the ‘Be Winter Ready’ information campaign are to:

provide practical advice on how best to prepare for the coming winter
ensure the public are aware of where advice and help can be found, if needed
reassure the public that preparations are being made and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there will be a coordinated response to severe weather events

Through a dedicated website www.winterready.ie, advice is being made available from a wide number of sources including government departments and agencies, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, the Office of Public Works, Local Authorities and the transport providers.

The Be Winter Ready leaflet included the following important points that are of particular relevance in the face of Storm Barra:

farmers are advised to take time to ensure that their farms are secure
store light items indoors, and tidy the farmyard
ensure all clean water drains are free of debris and the outfall is clear
ensure all gates are properly hanging and secured using steel hangers
all gates should be fastened using bolts or chains. Never use twine to secure a gate
ensure all doors are hanging on hinges and have strong fasteners to keep them closed
ensure all pen dividers and feed barriers in animal housing are properly secured using steel fixings
ensure all sliding doors are hanging correctly, are freely running and are secured at the bottom
ensure all gutters on buildings are secure and clean
ensure all roof sheets are secure. When working at heights always hire in suitable lifting equipment – never work off a ladder
immediately prior to the storm, turn off all electrical power in sheds (not fences)
move machinery into sheltered areas
alternative power generation may also be needed for milking or water pumping
in the event that sheeting, doors or items become loose or are displaced during Storm Barra, do not attempt to repair it until after the storm has fully passed. Undertaking repairs during the storm will highly likely lead to a serious accident. Also, do not approach fallen power lines as they may still be live – contact ESB Networks before approaching any fallen power lines

Met Éireann issues periodic updates on its website: www.met.ie

See Forest Safety advice: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/advice/management/dealing-with-storm-damage/