Storm Arwen and our power supplies

I cannot imagine how awful it must be for these poor people. I gather that the power companies simply do not have enough engineers to cope with the situation, nor enough generators as a back up. It seems to be up to local communities to look after each other, and some people are so kind, generous and public spirited.
I understand that Boris refused to let the army help at first, and today I heard they were involved but just checking up on people, which is all well and good, but seems a poor response from the government in this crisis.

henetha, what type is it that you can use it indoors?

I had a camping stove but it said outdoors use only. I sent my son a barbecue, at least he could cook sausages outside and his dogs would be pleased!

I feel desperately sorry for all those affected by the recent storm and power cuts. It must be absolutely dreadful to be without power for several days at a time.
When I moved here 12 years ago it was all electric (I've since had gas installed). It occurred to me that if there were power cuts it would be a nightmare, so I bought a little camping gas stove.
It's marvellous. I can heat water for hot drinks or to fill a hot water bottle, heat soup or baked beans or whatever.
It's been so useful over the years, I can't imagine how I would have managed without it.

My village was finally reconnected last night, having been without power since Friday evening. Some local areas had no water, either. No phones or internet. It’s almost impossible to make do in those circumstances. There were no food trucks provided until Tuesday evening and even then, it was by private individuals. We’ve been very lucky in that we were offered a holiday cottage near to my daughter’s but the lack or response from officialdom has been ridiculous. Just messaging to contact your energy supplier - what, by semaphore, or Morse code??

I have been in touch with neighbours since last night and it seems that they manages as best they could but Tuesday was the day that many of them broke. No particular cause, just that they’d been so cold, with minimal food etc.

One of my friends was uncontactable, along with her disabled husband. No response by phone or even at her house. We feared the worst but they were eventually tracked down last night and they’d been taken into a care home, which has a generator, so they’re safe and warm. It was a scary moment, though, and makes you realise how easy it is for people to drop off the radar.

We haven’t been badly affected by the storm but are all-electric and the cables are all overhead. As we don’t have an open fire we have two portable calor gas heaters for emergencies, a calor gas camping stove, plenty of torches and candles and a battery operated radio. Thankfully power cuts of several hours occur less frequently here than they used to. I feel for all those who continue to be without power.

@Grannywanny that's what I need to buy today, I sent the kids one by 'Juice'. My daughter went to Cambodia and they recommend solar phone chargers because the electric was so erratic there, not much use here!

To be fair to Northern Power, even with the warnings in place no one expected the devastation that Storm Arwen would cause. And unless you’ve experienced something like it you can’t understand the power behind such a wind which was combined with torrential rain. It started up last night again for a short while and we had to move the dustbins which were just blowing around the driveway and an Arwen weakened fence threatened to fall onto the car.

I had two open fires, two woodburners and an aga at the station so I would have been alright on Friday night - but here I only have gas central heating, obviously needs electric to work. I think I'll definitely open the chimney up in readiness. Luckily I had kept some of my huge collection of candles/torches.

I had anticipated power cuts and sent my kids a battery radio/torches/candles etc. Wish I had bought myself a battery radio too.

I've been holding on to TalkTalk for an hour now while a young man runs a line test for my aunt, I'm glad I've bought her a mobile. Seems the line does have a fault, he is coming back to me with an engineer date - I wonder how long she'll have to wait.

I still remember the Great January storm (was it 1968?). We were were reasonably safe in our stone built cottage but our neighbours, in two upstairs flats were terrified as their homes were shaking. The two couples + a toddler and a baby, joined us overnight. Of course the power was off but we had open coal fires in the bedroom and living room, a camping stove, some torches and candles and a transistor radio for news of what was happening around us. We actually had a most enjoyable night, with some drink taken and bacon butties to sustain us.

I detail this to illustrate how dependent we have become on electricity for communication, heat, light and power, in our modern homes

Can I recommend a very useful little device for charging mobile phones during a power cut. I’ve had mine about 4 years and paid £18 for it. It’s about the size of a chunky cigarette lighter. I bought it after experiencing a 24 hr power cut during which I had no means of contacting anyone.

It’s a rechargeable battery pack with a little cable to connect to a mobile. It will fully charge a mobile or Ipad 3 times before it needs recharged itself. I always have it in my handbag as my phone doesn’t hold its charge all day and I give it a top up. It holds its own charge for ages if it’s not been used.

My heart goes out to anyone experiencing these prolonged power cuts, especially those living alone.

Septima

I agree that smaller would be better in these circumstances but I doubt the powers that be would be of much help.

Shandy57

I'm in the NE and the power situation here is still being addressed, helicopters are out checking the lines. The local gym are offering showers and hot drinks, a local counsellor has been asking for mobile food units to visit the villages who have been off since Friday. It's a very hard frost this morning, I really feel for them.

I think some of you know I lost the flat roof on my new bungalow, I'm very lucky I've been able to isolate the kitchen/lounge electric so still have heating and light at least. I've been considering opening one of the chimney breasts to have an open fire, I also need to buy myself an old style corded phone. When it happened Friday night my mobile only had 20% just enough to message my kids then it went dead.

I’d certainly open up a fireplace just in case of emergency. I heard not long ago that land lines were no longer going to be supported so it seems even more urgent that alternative power sources need to be investigated.

Technology is great when it works but no power, no modern technology. It looks as if we are currently putting all our eggs in one basket and it doesn’t take much for everything to come apart at the seams (sorry but some old cliches do say it best). In these uncertain times a workable back-up plan seems to be becoming more necessary. Old technology does have its uses.

We managed to keep our power for once, but are close to places that didn't. Common sense suggests that, if you live in a rural area, some sort of back-up heating and cooking system is essential. But, even with that, the best part of a week with no power or water is going to get anybody down and poses serious problems for some.

I understand that undergrounding the power network, although a good idea, is limited by the problems caused by topography and geology. Overground cables crossing a valley, for example, are going to be much shorter than ones that have to descend one side and ascend the other. And that doesn't take into account whether the trenches have to cut through rock as well as soil.

Local generation of power with smaller networks might well be better - and greener.

My brother and I each tried several timesto contact northern power to let them know about elderly relatives with no power and who could only use phone when standing outside in the cold.
No reply after 45 minutes each time even in the “emergency” number.

We were hit with a surprise snowfall in 2006 we lived in the Yorkshire Dales, we were cut off and without power for 4 days.
I had two wood burners each with a flat top.
I was able to slow cook casseroles on the top using le creuset dishes and and old fashioned whistling kettle sat on the other.
We were warm and well fed.

We also had a proper walk in pantry with cold shelves, it kept everything cold..

I'm in the NE and the power situation here is still being addressed, helicopters are out checking the lines. The local gym are offering showers and hot drinks, a local counsellor has been asking for mobile food units to visit the villages who have been off since Friday. It's a very hard frost this morning, I really feel for them.

I think some of you know I lost the flat roof on my new bungalow, I'm very lucky I've been able to isolate the kitchen/lounge electric so still have heating and light at least. I've been considering opening one of the chimney breasts to have an open fire, I also need to buy myself an old style corded phone. When it happened Friday night my mobile only had 20% just enough to message my kids then it went dead.

Listening to the news last night there was a spokesperson from the provider saying they were looking into what support they could give. It struck me it was shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted! Surely they should have taken some action nearly a week ago!

We were lucky all sorts, 14 hours is nothing really compared to the what some of the village are going through.

How awful for you Galaxy, it us wonderful how people rally round in a crisis but there should be a coordinated response from providers when it happens.

JaneJudge

Sorry, I hadn't realised it was in towns and villages too. I do hope it's all sorted out as soon as it possibly can be

No worries JaneJudge. I was talking to my cousin in Aberdeenshire on the phone and she was telling me where the power is out. Ironically there are power outages in the village that is home to one of Scotland's main power stations!

We are north east of England.

We are in one of the villages that have been hit. Fortunately we were only off for 14 hours but there are sections of our village that have been off since Friday evening, the school has been closed all week. The community centre etc have been opened up for people to get warm, hot drinks, phones charged, etc but I cant even imagine how awful it is. I think there needs to be a much more coordinated response in terms of support whilst it is being repaired.

Sorry, I hadn't realised it was in towns and villages too. I do hope it's all sorted out as soon as it possibly can be

I do worry about vulnerable elderly folk or indeed any vulnerable person living on their own. One just has to hope that the community is caring for them.

Ayse I think your suggestions are very sensible and I don't think they conflict with green objectives at all.

JaneJudge the problem isn't only in remote areas of Scotland. Power is still off in towns and villages within a couple of miles of the biggest town in Aberdeenshire, less than 30 minutes from Aberdeen.