A severe storm named Éowyn has caused power outages that have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The current situation is impacting families who have young children and adults with a variety of health conditions that require specialised equipment. While some people are forced to “make do” and remain at home, others must relocate in search of shelter and support.
Terri-Lee Watson, a resident of Ballymena said that her son’s cystic fibrosis condition could be aggravated by the cold weather caused by the power outage. The family had remained in their own house using blankets to keep warm during the night on Friday, but had to move to stay with family members after that. She hopes that the estimated 10-day period proposed by NIE Networks to restore electrical power is not exceeded. Ten schools in Northern Ireland will be closed on Monday due to structural damage caused by the last storm.
In addition, The Education Authority (EA) has received 154 reports of damage to school buildings on the weekend, ranging in severity from missing roof tiles to fallen trees and serious structural damage. NIE Networks, the power company, have restored power to 211,000 homes and businesses. However, it will most likely be about 10 days before electricity is restored across the country.
Some areas of the Republic of Ireland are also without electricity supply. There are still 200,000 customers without power, a decrease from the peak of 768,000. One man died in Raphoe, County Donegal because of a fallen tree during the storm. A significant number of people in Scotland are also still experiencing power disruptions due to the storm.
If you need to report faults or emergencies, the following contact details can be useful: Northern Ireland Housing Executive 03448 920 901, Openreach 08000 23 20 23, Gas network 0800 002001, NI Water 03457 44 00 88 or visit niwater.com and NIE Networks 03457 643 643 or visit nienetworks.co.uk
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