Updated at 10.50pm

AS STORM EMMA moves in over Ireland, some areas of the country have been hit by power cuts.

Over 2,000 people in Julianstown and 1,000 people in Blanchardstown are without power at the moment, with ESB giving 8pm tomorrow the estimated time for most power outages to be fixed.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said on PrimeTime this evening that although they did expect power outages as part of the storm, they didn’t expect them to be as frequent as was the case with Storm Ophelia.

He said that because of the snow, however, that it would take longer to restore power to people’s homes and businesses.

Outages

According to the ESB’s Powercheck map, there are 1,124 customers without power in Blanchardstown tonight and 2,139 in Julianstown.

Around 450 customers in the Swords area are without power and a further 50 people in Harolds Cross.

Over 150 people in Sallins, Co Kildare are also without power.

In Louth, people in Jenkinstown, Kilsaran, Termonfeckin Road and Randalstown have been left without power because of the storm.

A Status Red warning is in place for the entire country for today and tomorrow, with Dublin among the counties first hit by the extremely cold and snowy conditions.

Blizzard conditions are set to hit the country this afternoon, with the weather warning in place until after noon tomorrow. Today, people are being urged to stay indoors from 4pm onwards.

South of the country, in Co Wexford Bealistown, Killinick, and Crane have around 50 people in total currently without power.

Advice

ESB Networks has warned that snow and ice can damage the electricity network by causing electricity wires to hang low or even fall.

These wires will still be live and are extremely dangerous. ESB is warning people never to approach or touch electricity network wires under any circumstances.

Snow may also cause trees and branches to fall across or lean onto electricity wires.

In the event of power outages, crews from ESB Networks are being dispatched to affected areas without electricity supply.

However, the network said that heavy snows may impede access to damaged infrastructure and therefore outages may take longer than usual to repair.

ESB Networks is asking customers to be prepared to be without electricity in case their area is hit, by ensuring the following:

• Have plenty of food and water available
• Have torches with spare batteries available
• Make sure your phone is charged and, if possible, have a phone charger on hand for your car
• Please check with elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours are prepared to be without electricity
• If you have electric gates, please check you know how to work them manually

People are being asked to report dangerous situations immediately to the ESB by calling 1850 372 999.

- with reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha

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