Northern Ireland Brace for Storm: Professionals on Standby Amidst Severe Weather Warnings

While many residents prepare to shelter indoors as Storm Boelo brings strong winds and potential disruption to Northern Ireland, a cadre of professionals is readying themselves to confront the severe weather head-on. These individuals, ranging from rescue volunteers to tradespeople, face long hours and hazardous conditions to ensure public safety and address the aftermath of the storm.

The Department for Infrastructure has announced that its teams are actively checking and clearing road gullies, monitoring river levels and tidal surges, and deploying temporary flood defenses in anticipation of the storm. Regional Community Resilience Groups have also been alerted to the weather patterns and advised to make appropriate preparations.

The Rescue Service

Darren Harper, the Belfast area commander for the Community Rescue Service, highlighted the proactive measures taken by volunteers. "Our main concern is the safety of the public," he stated. Preparations include thoroughly checking vehicles and equipment to ensure immediate response capability. "Being on standby, our volunteers are ready to mobilise at a short notice," Harper explained, emphasizing their role in assisting partner agencies and emergency services. He urged the public to take weather warnings seriously, avoid flooded roads and paths, stay away from swollen rivers, and never enter floodwater, warning, "Don't underestimate the weather - and stay away from riverbanks."

The Roofer

For roofer Charles Howard, the increasing frequency of storms has shifted his perspective from anticipating work to managing its overwhelming volume. "Normally years ago you would have loved the storms, because obviously you got the influx of work," he said. "But now because the storms are so regular, I kind of hate it." He recounted receiving approximately 800 messages seeking assistance after a severe storm early last year. Howard prepares by stocking his van with spare roof tiles and clearing his schedule for emergency calls. He also advises homeowners to inspect their roofs before and after storms, paying particular attention to loose or damaged tiles, as dislodged ridge tiles can become a hazard.

The Tree Surgeon

Tree surgeon Callum Kirk, who serves the Newtownabbey area and much of Belfast, described storms as altering his typical workday from scheduled jobs to immediate responses to fallen trees and hazardous situations. "Whenever there's a storm, we have to be on standby for any trees that could come down over someone's driveway or their property," he said. Preparation involves checking and sharpening equipment, even without a guarantee of being called out. "You haven't got planned work, you don't know, it's sort of a surprise, you're just more or less going to help people," Kirk noted. Much of his work occurs post-storm, clearing trees from properties, a task he acknowledged can be particularly dangerous. He advised, "If you see a tree that looks like it's going to fall, get in contact with someone before it's too late." He also encouraged homeowners to monitor potentially unstable trees throughout the year.