Wicklow County Council has introduced a new text alert system to forewarn people of floods and extreme weather events expected in their area.
The SMS system will also provide details of other events which may cause disruption, such as emergency roadworks, problems with local water supplies and notices regarding the quality of bathing water.
The messages will include important information on weather-related events specifically tailored to each of the county’s five municipal districts for Bray, Greystones, Arklow, Wicklow and Baltinglass.
The initiative is voluntary and people can opt to sign up on the council website, wicklow.ie.
Community notices
It also aims to inform people of community notices regarding public consultations on local area plans, local property tax deadlines and council events.
The new system is timely considering the widespread damage caused by recent storms and the advancing winter.
Its introduction has been planned for a number of months, and its arrival soon after Storm Desmond is coincidental, a council spokesman said.
Wicklow follows a number of other local authorities which have implemented similar systems.
"This is a major new service for the public in these five areas," said Wicklow County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr John Ryan.
“It means they will be alerted to emergency situations or other important service announcements from Wicklow County Council.”