Snowmagedagain

Hammer Archer

Hammer Archer wrote: »

2010 was colder. But with regards to the sheer size of the snow drifts, this event was far worse.

2010 seemed a different type of event. It was just constant snow for days on end and the fresh snow lodged on the already previous compounded snow.

This was gale/storm force winds meeting cold air coming from the east and a more sudden clinical strike

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

RandomName2

According to an interview today with Paul Kehoe only a few hundred of the armed forces are helping with storm Emma and the blizzards affecting the east coast. While these members are probably doing a good job (though I personally haven't seen any in Wicklow yet) and while some of the armed forces are not suited to such tasks (Air force, etc.) and others are serving abroad (for instance helping the human traffickers in the Med), it still seems ridiculous that the vast majority aren't being used, and that it's falling to civilian emergency services almost exclusively.

I thought the whole point of maintaining armed forces, year in, year out, was to be able to aid in national emergencies, etc. If it's all going to get put on civilian services anyway, wouldn't it be better to just relocate the funding to them on a permanent basis?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Gatling

Many were on social media complaining how they weren't getting any extra pay to help out in emergencies

Del2005

The army doesn't have enough troops to preform their own duties never mind covering extra duties.

Agricola

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

And the Irish live up their stereotype of being lazy gits, who with the slightest excuse, just turn over in the bed in the morning and couldnt be arsed making any effort to do a bit of work.

Mint Sauce

Have we had a national emergancy declared though?

Jawgap

RandomName2 wrote: »

According to an interview today with Paul Kehoe only a few hundred of the armed forces are helping with storm Emma and the blizzards affecting the east coast. While these members are probably doing a good job (though I personally haven't seen any in Wicklow yet) and while some of the armed forces are not suited to such tasks (Air force, etc.) and others are serving abroad (for instance helping the human traffickers in the Med), it still seems ridiculous that the vast majority aren't being used, and that it's falling to civilian emergency services almost exclusively.

I thought the whole point of maintaining armed forces, year in, year out, was to be able to aid in national emergencies, etc. If it's all going to get put on civilian services anyway, wouldn't it be better to just relocate the funding to them on a permanent basis?

Yeah, because turning out the Army and leaving things like armouries unguarded is a good idea......

.......and sure given the brilliant wages they're on shouldn't they all be working 24 hours a day, every day.

In short, whatever the size of the DF there's only about one third available to cover all contingencies. People are training, staffing out other functions etc and some are even allowed be off.

The Rape of Lucretia

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

And the Irish live up their stereotype of being lazy gits, who with the slightest excuse, just turn over in the bed in the morning and couldnt be arsed making any effort to do a bit of work.

Bit harsh. All over Ireland there is emergency staff, esb staff, and volunteers out there at the moment doing their utmost to help people as im sure there is right across the UK also.

odyssey06

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

You would have to wonder how Neanderthals survived without anything.

Sadly modern civilisation frowns on those who walk around heavily armed with projectile weapons, slaughtering whatever animals you happen to come across...

For Forks Sake

gmisk wrote: »

Ffs what a bunch of tossers! All for a slab of crap beer!

As someone more eagle-eyed than myself spotted, one of the looters was making off with a slab of non-alcoholic beer. :D

Collie D

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Bit harsh. All over Ireland there is emergency staff, esb staff, and volunteers out there at the moment doing their utmost to help people as im sure there is right across the UK also.

You're on here long enough to know that nobody hates the Irish more than Irish Boards users

Cee-Jay-Cee

Ha ha you said Ireland has an airforce.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

somefeen

Is it possible that only 5 percent of them are useful or needed at the moment?

I can't imagine there's an awful lot they can do besides transport?

Berserker

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

And the Irish live up their stereotype of being lazy gits, who with the slightest excuse, just turn over in the bed in the morning and couldnt be arsed making any effort to do a bit of work.

Wait until Monday morning when it'll be too dangerous to drive on the roads because of the melting snow on the sides of the road.

For Forks Sake wrote: »

As someone more eagle-eyed than myself spotted, one of the looters was making off with a slab of non-alcoholic beer. :D

Probably an Irish football fan. Well know for falling for that one.

Franz Von Peppercorn

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I remember it being colder, much colder, in 2010 when -10 appeared on my car screen. The worst here has been -3 on my phone at 4am this morning. Anyway, I said that about 2010 a few days ago and a couple of drama queens essentially said the worst hadn't happened so shut up ya thick. Worst apparently has happened now and it never got as cold as 2010. :P

Literally nobody was claiming this was going to be an extreme cold event. It being March and all.

sondagefaux

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

You would have to wonder how Neanderthals survived without anything.

They didn't survive, they're extinct...

dxhound2005

sondagefaux wrote: »

They didn't survive, they're extinct...

No, there's some on this thread.

odyssey06

sondagefaux wrote: »

They didn't survive, they're extinct...

Got too warm for 'em, which suited us better...

Collie D

Collie D wrote: »

You're on here long enough to know that nobody hates the Irish more than Irish Boards users

My bad Collie. Your 100% correct.

Fighting Tao

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Yeast infection anyone?

It looks stale.

_Dara_

Deleted User wrote: »

I remember it being colder, much colder, in 2010 when -10 appeared on my car screen. The worst here has been -3 on my phone at 4am this morning. Anyway, I said that about 2010 a few days ago and a couple of drama queens essentially said the worst hadn't happened so shut up ya thick. Worst apparently has happened now and it never got as cold as 2010. :P

This has never been advertised as being similar to the 2010 cold spell. They're very different and this one has been worse in one way - the drifting is on a whole new level. Oh and it's much windier.

Omackeral

I'm stuck in work for two days solid in a prison. Missus begged me not to go in yesterday but I live relatively close to the jail, especially in comparison to other people that work there. Some colleagues have been here since Tuesday night! I went in because I have no kids and some of those rostered to work do and probably wouldn't risk the journey, plus my trip is a lot shorter than a lot of theirs.

State of play in the prison is affected too. Most prisoners are being kept back in their cells all day (i.e. no workshops, school, exercise yards and all visits are cancelled) and have only been allowed out in small groups to facilitate showers and phonecalls. Reason for this is staff can't make it to work and we'd have been outnumbered massively. There's definitely cabin fever setting in, on both sides.

sondagefaux

facehugger99 wrote: »

The UK haven't closed down their country because they have a bit of backbone.
They faced down the Germans twice while we cowered in their shadow. A couple of inches of snow are going to see them closing down schools and public transport for a few days.

Listening to our politicians telling is to stay indoors in case someone has a boo-boo is cringe-inducing.

I live in Co. Durham in the north-east of England. Every school and college is shut since yesterday, lots of events and meetings cancelled.

Lots of roads are closed, buses and trains cancelled, flights cancelled, loads of delays everywhere, people panic-buying bread etc, etc.

And it's not even half as bad as Ireland here - Storm Emma didn't hit this part of England.

One thing about living in England, you soon realise that 'keep calm and carry on' is just a slogan.

iamwhoiam

_Dara_ wrote: »

This has never been advertised as being similar to the 2010 cold spell. They're very different and this one has been worse in one way - the drifting is on a whole new level.

Its much more like 82 . Same drifting etc . But it was two days and then a clear dry spell and a thaw . This is longer and the icy wind added in . Stir crazy here and wondering when its bedtime !!

thomasj

https://twitter.com/46Flynn/status/969640903060131845?s=09

Ken.

Mod- All snow threads merged in to one super thread. Please try keep all snow stuff here. 9 threads about it in total.

Charlie19

More scum at work.

https://twitter.com/gjt90/status/969653145751126018?s=19

Wibbs

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

You would have to wonder how Neanderthals survived without anything.

Much of the time they didn't. Lost at least half their kids in childhood, suffered regular famines and only a precious few lived into their 40's and at their peak there were maybe 40,000 of them in the world. Oh and they're extinct.

You could give it a go. Learn how to make every single thing you need to survive, clothes, tools, fire, shelter. Then learn how to hunt and gather food in weather like this and you'll need a few mates with you cos even a cow is a big bugger to tackle on your own with little more than a pointy stick(and you have to butcher it and carry the food back to shelter and fire). Even someone like Bear Grylls would be down to drinking his own piss within the hour. And then freezing into a human ice pop.

Our own ancestors, those first people in Europe lived in ice free corridors in Europe, where it was still a lot colder than today and days like this would last months in winter. And on top of all that list above, they made better stuff, tailored clothing, invented trade and for the craic like also made art and culture and music. It seems you couldn't leave one of those bods alone with anything before they'd be compelled to decorate it up. Pimp my stone age. A truly incredible bunch of folks we can call our ancestors.

sondagefaux

facehugger99 wrote: »

http://www.bbc.com/

Says it all.

No mention of the weather until the story about Ireland shutting down - embarrassing.

Strange that. I'm looking at bbc.co.uk's homepage, and there's an entire section devoted to 'Severe Weather' stories.

These are the ones featured in that section now:

UK snow: M62 drivers stranded 'indefinitely'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-43254836

Storm Emma: Everyday heroes in and out of uniform

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43242286

Below that, in the News Headlines section, the top two stories are:

Snow, ice and driving winds causing severe disruption

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43251824

Latest updates as blizzards and snow hit UK. Live now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-43202018

God bless de interwebs, facilitating Irish people with inferiority complexes for over 20 years! :D:D:D:D:D

_Dara_

So, what's the story with the Lidl looting? IS it looting? If so, did people break the door down? Details are scant.

CrowdedHouse

Charlie19 wrote: »

More scum at work.

https://twitter.com/gjt90/status/969653145751126018?s=19

Vote for repeal and make it retrospective.

Wheeliebin30

Wibbs wrote: »

Much of the time they didn't. Lost at least half their kids in childhood, suffered regular famines and only a precious few lived into their 40's and at their peak there were maybe 40,000 of them in the world. Oh and they're extinct.

You could give it a go. Learn how to make every single thing you need to survive, clothes, tools, fire, shelter. Then learn how to hunt and gather food in weather like this and you'll need a few mates with you cos even a cow is a big bugger to tackle on your own with little more than a pointy stick(and you have to butcher it and carry the food back to shelter and fire). Even someone like Bear Grylls would be down to drinking his own piss within the hour. And then freezing into a human ice pop.

Our own ancestors, those first people in Europe lived in ice free corridors in Europe, where it was still a lot colder than today and days like this would last months in winter. And on top of all that list above, they made better stuff, tailored clothing, invented trade and for the craic like also made art and culture and music. It seems you couldn't leave one of those bods alone with anything before they'd be compelled to decorate it up. Pimp my stone age. A truly incredible bunch of folks we can call our ancestors.

Yep you proved my point better than I ever could.

Agricola

_Dara_ wrote: »

So, what's the story with the Lidl looting? IS it looting? If so, did people break the door down? Details are scant.

You'd imagine it'd be easier to get into Fort Knox than a closed Lidl or Aldi alright.

sondagefaux

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

Yep you proved my point better than I ever could.

The Neanderthals are extinct. Human beings have gone from strength to strength. When I was born there were about 3.5 billion human beings alive. Nowadays, there are over 7 billion human beings alive. Neanderthals didn't have what it takes to survive, we do.

Charlie19

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

Vote for repeal and make it retrospective.

Absolutely.

Barry Badrinath

RandomName2 wrote: »

According to an interview today with Paul Kehoe only a few hundred of the armed forces are helping with storm Emma and the blizzards affecting the east coast. While these members are probably doing a good job (though I personally haven't seen any in Wicklow yet) and while some of the armed forces are not suited to such tasks (Air force, etc.) and others are serving abroad (for instance helping the human traffickers in the Med), it still seems ridiculous that the vast majority aren't being used, and that it's falling to civilian emergency services almost exclusively.

I thought the whole point of maintaining armed forces, year in, year out, was to be able to aid in national emergencies, etc. If it's all going to get put on civilian services anyway, wouldn't it be better to just relocate the funding to them on a permanent basis?

The Defence Forces has appropriate personnel (Drivers, Engineers etc) on standby.

The DF do not just deploy in a national emergency, they have to be requested to assist the primary responders.

The number of troops that deploy to assist is a reflection of those organisations who have requested military assistance.

They have cleared roads, transported carers, medical priority patients, medical staff among other tasks.

Putting it simply, if the primary responders dont ask, they dont get. The DF has no authority to self deploy unless its against an armed threat.

Some info in the Twatter link.

https://mobile.twitter.com/defenceforces?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

sondagefaux

Omackeral wrote: »

I'm stuck in work for two days solid in a prison. Missus begged me not to go in yesterday but I live relatively close to the jail, especially in comparison to other people that work there. Some colleagues have been here since Tuesday night! I went in because I have no kids and some of those rostered to work do and probably wouldn't risk the journey, plus my trip is a lot shorter than a lot of theirs.

State of play in the prison is affected too. Most prisoners are being kept back in their cells all day (i.e. no workshops, school, exercise yards and all visits are cancelled) and have only been allowed out in small groups to facilitate showers and phonecalls. Reason for this is staff can't make it to work and we'd have been outnumbered massively. There's definitely cabin fever setting in, on both sides.

Sure wouldn't ye let the prisoners out for a walk around town or something? I'm sure most of them would come back after an hour or so...:p

namloc1980

Any word on how many foreigners have been hospitalised from injuries sustained from laughing at us? I heard one poor lad laughed his hole off. Nasty.

banie01

RandomName2 wrote: »

According to an interview today with Paul Kehoe only a few hundred of the armed forces are helping with storm Emma and the blizzards affecting the east coast.

This is headline grabbing sensationalist BS.
I am not a member of the DF, but I do have a good grasp of manpower levels, staff allocations, rostering and the DFs other duties.

The current DF total staff is @9150.
Of that total @7300 are in thw army, of that total @700 are deployed overseas leaving 6600 available for duties.

Given the roster pattern, that leaves @2200 personnel available for duty at any one time.
A large number of those available will not actually be available for deployment as that 2200 have to staff 16 bases(Not counting HaulBowline or Baldonnel) be it Barracks duty, guard duty, G2, C4I, Liason and Logistics duties a significant portion of the manpower on hand is not available for deployment.

Despite this, the DF have had 400 personnel and 155 vehicles on duty and available to the civil powers.
That accounts for quite a larger proportion of the actually available manpower than the 5% outlined.
The numbers actually mase available are a credit to the planning capabilities of our hugely under resourced DF.

Berserker

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

Vote for repeal and make it retrospective.

You'd have to force the mother to have a termination though. Not the kind of people that would opt for one.

Jawgap

I thought soldiers were allowed shoot looters on sight......might be time to send in the Army

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQp8-uJSQo

jimmycrackcorm

_Dara_ wrote:

So, what's the story with the Lidl looting? IS it looting? If so, did people break the door down? Details are scant.

I was in that Lidl only once after a football match at the stadium. In the ten minutes I was there was a kerfuffle where someone went out last the tills without paying and the guards were called.

They actually arrived very quickly as I was leaving, but they sauntered in knowing there was nothing they could do execept log a report.

riemann

I see the poor folk of South Dublin have had to resort to stealing the essentials in order to get through the night.

https://mobile.twitter.com/46Flynn/status/969640903060131845/video/1

LollipopJimmy

That particular store told staff to turn in yesterday or face disciplinary actions so I'm finding it hard to have sympathy. Although bringing children along to a loot takes a special kind of moron

arybvtcw0eolkf

Jawgap wrote: »

I thought soldiers were allowed shoot looters on sight......might be time to send in the Army

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQp8-uJSQo

Gladly.

Gatling

Another centra in Jobstown is currently getting looted after **** heads cut off part of the shutters

Samuel T. Cogley

Did wonder if the staff weren't particularly arsed. If it's true I hope someone slips over and sues the **** out of them.