Storm Arwen

I'm in Northumberland. Ver scary night, grandson is having his sleepover, at one point we both thought that the roof was going to blow off the house.
Our poor summerhouse is wrecked, the doors were blown open and half of one door shattered, also one window. The cover blew off the poly tunnel but fortunately it remained in the garden.
There are trees down all over the place, and a popular walk is nigh impassable.
We are all safe and warm, so that's a blessing.

NW Durham here. A very wild night, kept me awake for a long time. We've two trees in our fields down and a big branch. Fortunately no damage to fencing. No snow though, just flurries which don't last long and don't settle.

For some reason our central heating oil boiler is refusing to light, but luckily the woodburner also heats our water (and can do central heating, though it struggles a bit). We have one warm room and hot water.

My sympathy to those of you who have suffered worse.

My extension roof was ripped off, and water poured in through the spotlights in the lounge/kitchen.

I've been on the to Policy Expert for hours now, I did get through and the young man couldn't hear me - then told me I was covered under emergency. Still holding for the home insurance line. Nightmare.

'was not'

Gosh you have really gone through it Shandy. That must have been so scary for you and now you’ll spend all your Saturday on the phone. Hope you can get it sorted out?

I’m very sorry for those of you who have suffered damage. I’ve only heard that there’s no power back home in our village so I don’t know if there’s been any damage to the house yet.

My dd came through unscathed, which she was astonished at, because their fence is very rickety! Other dd drove from Leeds to London last night through snow.

Get well soon, Lucca.

Oh Shandy57 what an awful thing to happen. Hope it can all be fixed rapidly and under insurance.

Shandy that's terrible for you. ?

Shandy
How awful for you. If you can get yourself back down to Devon in the next week or two you are welcome to spend a few nights with us.

Shandy57

18 trees down so far, another one just reported. I remember the 1987 storm, I was teaching and suddenly saw the roof of the gym float away - class dismissed!

Shandy I hope you get a positive answer from the insurance people soon.
He must be wrong - if not covered for emergency then what is the cover for?

Sorry, quoted the wrong post!

Hi, just about to go on another freezing dog walk, don't think the roofer is coming now it's dark.

Calistemon I've got house insurance, emergency cover and legal. Somehow I must have pressed the wrong number and apparently I'm only covered for emergency 'plumbing/heating' problems.

Waited an hour and a half on the phone and finally got through to a very nice young man who has put my claim in. Nearly fainted when he gave my rental address ... but checking the policy it does cover the bungalow! Apparently an assessor is coming 'within 7 days', I could need a boat by then. Water is coming through one spotlight at the rate of knots, and lines of water are gathering with drips on, I've just got saucepans everywhere.

Sleeping in my clothes again tonight in case the winds pick up, keep your fingers crossed it's gone - prediction is 29 mph, last night must have been 70+. I was glad to see my silly wood pigeon this morning waiting.

I meant to say when I was brave enough to go outside (the resin/chipboard roof is over the bathroom/bedroom by the patio doors) I went down the side of the house to the bins. I wondered why the next door neighbour had left her fence all over my garden but was preoccupied and didn't think of it again, it was blizzarding with snow.

About an hour later I realised it's my fence - and I know it isn't covered as Policy Expert have it on their message when you are holding on forever and a day!

Our daughter, partner and children have had a grim time in Cheshire/Shropshire area.
Howling wind, scared dog and no power since 2am.
They are on their way to an hotel!

Kent has had drizzle most of the day. But the wind has ony got up in last 3 hrs.
Apparently there was a dusting of snow on Detling Hill near here this morning.

Oh dear, Shandy, hope you stay safe!

Water is coming through one spotlight at the rate of knots

Someone should come out straight away, that sounds dangerous. Don't turn it on and off at the light switch - have you got a circuit breaker?

I'm late, been waiting all day for the electricity to go on, after last nights storm.
I live on the North East Coast, and last night was really scary. Found out today that the wind around our village reached 79mph. According to local RAF station.
Now its snowing, but I dont care just so relieved the "Lecky" is back on.
I'm 76 and lived in this area for years, but cant recall wind speeds such as we had last night. Thought my roof was going to land in the next field!!

Shandy So sorry to hear your stories. Have you got someone with you eg. a partner, or are you having to deal with this all on your own?

for you - wish I could say something more helpful.

Relatives in County Durham have no electricity

Still feeling lousy but GD due out of hospital very soon so that’s good news. Maybe if I’m miraculously week tomorrow I’ll get a train over….

Well, not week.

That’s awful, Shandy. I hope they can get to you faster than in one week.

Reports from home are that there’s no power, mobile signal, internet or water! Power may be restored by 6pm Sunday. The only way to communicate is via landline, which still seems to be working. If you have no LL and am electric car, you’re done for! ?

People who can, are leaving town to stay with relatives or in hotels. It must be dreadful if you have small children.

Sorry to hear all your troubles Shandy. I hope the insurance adjuster can arrange sooner to come and get things fixed. I am glad most of the rest of Grans have come away unscathed.

We have also had some horrible storms on this side of the world, with trees and power poles down. We were lucky to not be affected, but my DD and family went about 12 hours without power.

Thinking of you all, and hope cleanup is not too strenuous.

Shandy. Worried about water coming in through spot lights. Shouldn't you fill the kettle and bath with water then switch the water off. Then get an emergency plumber in to fix the leak.
Take care.

Thanks for all your helpful comments, I feel a lot calmer now the winds have dropped. Roofer didn't manage to get here yesterday so I'm still open to the elements. I walked round to the neighbour's house to get a good view of the back and it is only half of the roof that's ripped off and blown over the other side, but there are lots of tiles too Gearing up to move all my concrete garden ornaments onto the lawn, so heavy.

@loopyloo it's water from the sky, we've had rain, sleet and snow. I got up in the night to empty the buckets and glad to say the water seems to have come through - but it's snowing again. I have isolated the lights but as the ceiling is dripping all over I've had to remove my tv, I miss it!