Donegal County Councillor Joy Beard has again called for refuges to be established during red weather alerts for families in defective concrete homes and temporary accommodation.
With the status red level Storm Éowyn coming tomorrow, Cllr Beard says the structural integrity of defective concrete homes cannot be ignored.
“With every storm, the houses are weakening,” Cllr Beard told the council’s housing meeting yesterday.
“With every storm, there’s more chance of lives being lost or certainly people maimed in these homes.”
The 100% Redress Party has made repeated calls for emergency refuge centres prior to weather events, but Cllr Beard said they are not forthcoming.
Under the current Civil Defence Plan, Donegal Civil Defence team can provide emergency housing to people following an incident of any kind. Emergency accommodation can be offered or, in the event of a larger scale demand, bedding can be deployed in community buildings.
Cllr Beard says safe centres should be established as a precautionary measure, not reactionary.
She told yesterday’s meeting of a terrifying ordeal she had while living in a caravan during a previous storm while her own home was being rebuilt.
“I genuinely thought my life was in someone else’s hands that night,” Cllr Beard said.
“We have more families engaging with the (DCB) scheme and in mobile homes. They are not meant for living in during storms, especially a red weather warning.
“I know the Council are telling me that it is not our remit, but this is an unprecedented crisis and it is time that we make a bit of noise about what is happening here in Donegal, that we step up and protect these families.
“We need to think outside the box now, we need to promote a safe place of refuge during this storm.”
