Labour calls for urgent action on emergency preparedness ahead of Storm Ashley
Labour’s General Election Candidate in Waterford, Sadhbh O’Neill, today called for immediate action to address Ireland’s inadequate emergency preparedness in light of the announcement of Storm Ashley. O’Neill stressed that the country’s failure to adapt to the growing threat of extreme weather events driven by climate change is putting lives at risk and that the government must overhaul emergency planning to meet modern-day challenges.
Sadhbh said:
“Storm Ashley must be a wake-up call for all of us. Ireland has been on the receiving end of increasingly frequent and severe weather events, but we still lack the basic tools to protect our communities. We don’t even have a national flood warning system in place, and that is simply unacceptable. This is a glaring oversight in the face of worsening storms and rising sea levels.
“Beyond that, government’s ‘Winter Ready’ website is not fit for purpose. The advice hasn’t been updated and it fails to address modern challenges, especially for those with vulnerabilities. There are countless families across Ireland who rely on medical devices at home—whether that’s oxygen compressors, nebulisers, or refrigeration for critical medicines. If the power goes out during a storm like Ashley, where is the guidance? Where is the support?”
O’Neill also criticised the lack of foresight in applying lessons learned from international disasters:
“We’ve seen time and again, in countries like Germany, the US, and Japan, how robust planning can save lives. Yet, in Ireland, we don’t seem to take these lessons seriously. Why hasn’t our emergency planning been updated to reflect the insights gained from these countries’ experiences with floods, storms, and power outages?”
Sadhbh further highlighted how our outdated communication systems are putting people at risk:
“In 2024, we need to acknowledge that modern communication plays a vital role in crisis management. Whether it’s through apps, social media, or automated alerts, we should be leveraging every available tool to ensure that people are informed and safe. Right now, we’re not doing that. The Winter Ready site fails to address the way people receive and respond to emergency information in this digital age.”
Labour is calling for an overhaul in three critical areas: preparedness, mitigation, and recovery.
“Emergency preparedness, mitigation, and recoverability all need to be radically rethought as part of our climate action agenda. It’s not just about responding after the fact; it’s about ensuring communities have the resources and knowledge to deal with these events before they happen. The unprecedented, rapid flooding event in Midleton that took place this time last year should serve as a reminder of how quickly a flood event can occur, but also the incredible damage it can cause. Every time we fail to prepare, we are putting people in harm’s way—and it’s preventable.”
Sadhbh concluded with a strong call for immediate action:
“As Storm Ashley approaches, we need to act now to protect our people. The government must commit to a comprehensive overhaul of our emergency preparedness strategy. This means developing a national flood warning system, updating the Winter Ready site, ensuring that critical needs such as medical device reliance are accounted for, and embracing the power of modern communications. Climate change is not a future threat; it’s happening now, and we must be ready to face it.
“Labour urges the government to prioritise emergency preparedness as a key component of Ireland’s climate strategy, ensuring that communities across the country are equipped to face the increasing dangers of climate-driven weather events. The time for action is now.”