Clare people are being urged to continue to check in on vulnerable neighbours and ensure they have all the essentials for the duration of the cold snap.
It comes as temperatures are set to plummet as low as minus ten degrees in parts of the county overnight tonight as the second of this week’s orange weather warnings takes hold.
The first mid-level alert expired this morning and now a yellow warning for low temperature and ice is in effect until 6pm, at which time it will be upgraded to an orange warning that remains in place through to Thursday morning.
Met Eireann is continuing to warn of dangerous travelling conditions on roads, underfoot and animal welfare issues, with temperatures set to reach as low as minus ten overnight in parts of the county.
So far today, The Killaloe to Ardnacrusha Road is reported to be clear, the N18, N19 and M18 are clear but there’s a lot of snow in the hard shoulders and central reservations.
Some side roads around Parteen, Meelick, Bunrartty , Sixmilebridge and Cratloe still covered in snow, with particularly dangerous conditions also noted in Ogonelloe, Kilrush, Cree and the Loop Head peninsula.
Newmarket-On-Fergus based charity Obair, meanwnhile, typically delivers 300 meals a day, but in preparation for possible travel disruption, it distributed over 1,400 yesterday, so service users would be guaranteed three days supply.
The charity relies on 40 volunteers to fulfil routes currently in Lisdoonvarna, Kilrush, Clarecastle Ennis, Newmarket-On-Fergus, Cratloe, Inagh, parts of East Clare, Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Tulla; all of which presented for work.
Acting Manager of Obair, Siobhán O’Driscoll says staff have gone to extraordinary lengths to help customers.
Clare’s Irish Pharmacist Union representative is assuring chemists will remain open and there’s no need to panic buy.
Feidhlim Hillery of Seán Hilley’s Pharmacy in Shannon says there’s plenty of supplies available.
Uisce Eireann has only had to deal with a minimal outages here so far, with disruptions in Ennis and Meelick already rectified, while emergency crews are currently dealing with a mains burst in the Barefield-Crusheen area.
When temperatures fall below zero, water can expand by up to 10% as it freezes into ice, stopping its flow and in some cases, causing new pipes to split.
Clare Water Treatment Operations Manager, Darragh Conneely has this proactive advice for local households.
Home Instead is urging vulnerable people to stock up on essential medicines, fuel and food, to eat well and wear multiple layers of clothing.
Clare General Manager Brian O’Sullivan says its vital neighbours check in on older residents in their area this week too.
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