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    Be Winter Ready

    Information from  the Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence on how to be ready for the Bad Weather.

    http://www.winterready.ie/

     

    Advice for Motorists

    In extreme conditions ask yourself

    • Is your journey essential?
    • Have you checked the weather forecast and road conditions and carefully considered the advice given?
    • Have you a full fuel tank?
    • Does anybody know where you are going and when you hope to arrive?
    • Would taking warm clothing, hot drinks, food, wellingtons, a torch with spare batteries, a high visibility vest and a shovel be a wise precaution?

    Check You

    • are travelling with care on both treated and untreated roads and reduce speed accordingly
    • take particular care when leaving or joining untreated roads at junctions
    • are you using dipped headlights in poor visibility and snow
    • are driving in the highest gear possible and avoid harsh breaking and acceleration
    • are maintaining a safe stopping distance behind other vehicles bearing in mind the prevailing conditions
    • are keeping a careful watch on other road users and especially cyclists and children
    • are not obstructing winter maintenance vehicles as they treat the roads
    • local and national radio for travel information and weather forecasts allowing extra time for your journey if necessary
    • all lights are clean and working properly
    • all windows and mirrors are clear from frost and snow and are clean

    If you get into trouble

    • stay with your vehicle if possible until help arrives
    • if you do have to leave your vehicle make yourself visible to other road users
    • if you are forced to abandon your vehicle give the local police the details
    • check the local and national weather forecasts.
    • If driving, listen to your local or national radio stations for travel news.  

    Frequently asked questions
    Why roads may still be icy:

    • Despite the high level of service provided, no guarantee can be given that roads will always be completely clear of ice or snow.
    • On average, forecasts are 90% accurate and in most winters this means that there are days when a road frost is not forecast, but can actually occur.
    • It takes time for the salt to become effective after roads are salted.
    • Rain can wash salt off roads leaving them prone to re-icing.
    • In severe cold weather below -8oC even salt will not prevent roads from icing up.
    • If a road frost follows rain salting will normally start after the rain has stopped to avoid salt being washed away.
    • Temperatures may fall by as much as 5oC per hour and the wet roads may well freeze before the salt spreader has been able to salt them.
    • "Dawn Frost" - This occurs on dry roads and involves the development of early morning dew which falls on cold road surfaces and freezes on impact.
    • It is impossible to forecast with any accuracy where and when it will occur.
    • When rain turns to snow, early salting cannot take place as it would be washed away.
    • Treated roads can still therefore have icy patches and drivers should remain vigilant and aware of the need to drive carefully at all times especially when road frosts follow rain.

    Water Services- Advice for Property Owners during Cold Spells

    General Advice for Property Owners during Cold Spell

     

    1. Conserve water as much as possible to reduce the likelihood of supply interruptions.
    2. Ensure that you know the location of your internal stop tap for turning off the water supply. This is generally under the kitchen sink. Older properties may not have an internal stop tap and in this case the water will need to be turned off at the external stop tap. This will be located adjacent to the property boundary, generally on the footpath or verge. The property owner should ensure in this case that they are familiar with it’s location and how to turn it off, and that it is easily accessible. Owners should consider the installation of an internal stop tap if none exists.
    3. Try to maintain heat in the internal pipe network. This can be done by; a) Leaving on heating system for longer periods, b) Opening attic trap door to allow warm air from the house to circulate around the attic pipework, c) Leaving on a light in the attic to generate heat
    4. If property is to be left unattended for any significant period of time shut off water supply at stop tap.

    Advice to Property Owners with Frozen Service Pipe – i.e. No water in Cold tap in kitchen

     

    1. Use water from attic tank as sparingly as possible until normal service returns
    2. Switch off central heating system and seek advice from plumber familiar with property before continuing to use

    Advice to Property Owners with Frozen Internal Pipe – i.e. Water in Cold tap in kitchen but no water in other tap or cistern in house

     

    1. Switch off water supply to property at stop tap
    2. Contact plumber to check out system
    3. Check attic and ceilings for signs of leak - If leak detected drain attic tank by running bath taps
    4. Switch off central heating system and seek advice from plumber familiar with property before continuing to use

     

    Advice to Property Owners who discover a Leak

     

    1. Immediately switch off water supply to property at stop tap
    2. Drain system by running taps
    3. Contact plumber
    4. Switch off central heating system and run down any other solid fuel heating source

    Severe Weather Advice - Guidance for Local Authority Tenants

    During the winter/spring of 2009/2010 we experienced an unprecedented cold spell. Should we experience this weather again this year we would like to offer our tenants the following advice and tips:

    How to avoid frozen pipes:

    • Wrap a towel around an outside tap
    • Open the attic trap door to allow heat into the attic
    • Leave a light on in the attic
    • Leave heating on longer than normal
    • Place a piece of insulation e.g. carpet/matting over your external stopcock
    • Park a car over your external stop cock

    If pipes are burst or frozen:
    Frozen Pipes ·

    • Turn off the water supply – please make yourself aware of where the stop water valve is in your property
    • Protect anything around the pipe that appears to be frozen to avoid damage if it does burst
    • Open the tap nearest the part of the pipe you think is frozen so that the water can flow through when ice has thawed
    • Thaw the ice in the pipe with a hot water bottle or hairdryer ( taking care to keep it away from any water)
    • If the heating system is frozen, do not light a fire or turn on a burner.

    Burst Pipes ·

    • Turn off the water supply
    • Drain the system – turn on all your cold taps
    • Switch off the central heating, immersion heater and any other water heating systems
    • If water leaks near the electrics or electrical appliances, switch off the mains immediately. If wet do not touch them.

    If you experience a burst pipe please call this Council immediately and we will arrange for a plumber and electrician, if required, to repair the damage.
    Please ensure that your household contents insurance is up to date should any damage be caused to your contents due to a burst pipe

    Safety Tips for the Public

    We would like to offer the following advice and tips:

    Precautions

    • Check that your household contents insurance is up to date should any damage be caused to your contents due to a burst pipe
    • Check to make sure you have enough fuel for a cold spell · Have some extra food that will keep and some bottled water.
    • Consider getting some extra essential medicines
    • Have a torch and a radio with fresh batteries
    • Have a list of emergency numbers you might need
    • Have your boiler serviced and your radiators bled.
    • Get your chimney cleaned and change your smoke alarm batteries

    The Car:

    • Check the forecast before you leave
    • Make sure you have lots of fuel, your lights are all working and that it is in good order generally, including antifreeze.
    • Drive slowly and carefully, especially on minor roads
    • Have a torch, a rug or spare coat in the car, a high-vis vest and have your phone well charged up.

    Walking:

    • If there is bad ice consider do you need to go out?
    • Consider shopping for elderly neighbours
    • Make sure you have reflective clothing or a jacket when walking.

    In the house

    • Fill the bath and some containers if there is a danger of your water supply freezing
    • Use a fire guard with an open fire
    • Make sure you have some ventilation in the room with the fire/stove.

    Pets and Wildlife

    • Remember to take care of pets
    • You could put out some food and water for the birds

    How to avoid frozen pipes:

    • Wrap a towel around the outside tap
    • Leave heating on longer than normal
    • Place a piece of insulation e.g. carpet/matting over your external stopcock
    • Let some heat into the attic space by opening the hatch cover

    If pipes are burst or frozen:

    Frozen Pipes

    • Turn off the water supply – please make yourself aware of where the stop water valve is in your property
    • Protect anything around the pipe that appears to be frozen to avoid damage if it does burst
    • Open the tap nearest the part of the pipe you think is frozen so that the water can flow through when ice has thawed
    • Thaw the ice in the pipe with a hot water bottle
    • If the heating system is frozen, do not light a fire or turn on a burner

    Burst Pipes

    • Turn off the water supply
    • Drain the system – turn on all your cold taps
    • Switch off the central heating, immersion heater and any other water heating systems
    • If water leaks near the electrics or electrical appliances, switch off the mains immediately. If wet do not touch them. If you have a burst pipe call a plumber and electrician, if required, to repair the damage

    Neighbours

    • Work with your neighbours to keep footpaths clear
    • Visit the elderly and sick to make sure they are all right
    • Dress warmly, eat well, wear sensible footwear and apply common sense to travelling in bad conditions

    In General

    • Keep warm
    • Wear warm clothing and sensible footwear
    • Check in on vulnerable and elderly neighbours.
    • Undertake only essential journeys using public transport where possible
    • Execute extreme caution when driving due to snow and frozen slush.
    • Check RSA & AA Roadwatch websites for safe driving tips

    Useful Websites

    Met Eireann: www.met.ie
    Department of Transport: www.transport.ie
    National Roads Authority: www.nra.ie
    Roads Safety Authority: www.rsa.ie
    HSE: www.hse.ie
    AA Roadwatch: www.aaireland.ie
    Winter Ready Website: www.winterready.ie.


    Muintir na Tíre Helpline: 086 6000751