'We were having dinner when a tree crashed into our house'

'We were having dinner when a tree crashed into our house'

During the fierce Storm Amy in the Highlands, Candice McMillan and her family experienced a dreadfully close call when a tree crashed through the windows of their home in Torlundy, near Fort William. While the family was gathered for dinner, the 70mph gusts brought chaos as the tree fell onto their house. Miraculously, nobody was harmed during the incident, which occurred amidst an Amber weather warning in the region. This tragic event was part of the widespread damage caused by Storm Amy, which left 75,000 homes without power and wreaked havoc across the country.

Describing the harrowing moment, Ms. McMillan recounted the sudden destruction, saying, “We were all sitting around the table and you could see the trees outside were blowing really badly.” The family watched in shock as the windows shattered around them due to the powerful winds. Despite the surreal nature of the experience, they managed to cover the broken windows with bin bags to shield themselves from the storm’s fury. Fortunately, Ms. McMillan’s sons, aged 17 and 21, escaped unscathed, but the full extent of the damage to their property and vehicles remains unknown until the winds calm down.

As Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) worked tirelessly to restore power to affected areas, communities like Croftamie in Stirlingshire were left grappling with the aftermath of the storm. Tricia Scott described Storm Amy as the worst storm to have hit her village in years, emphasizing the unpredictability of the situation. With power outages expected to last for days in some places, neighbors came together to support each other and ensure everyone’s well-being. Even amidst the challenges, local businesses like the Scottish Stove Centre adapted to the circumstances, providing essential supplies and warmth to those in need.

While SSEN continued their efforts to assess and address the storm’s impact, Nik Wheeler highlighted the importance of prioritizing people’s safety and comfort during the recovery process. With resources mobilized for reconnection operations and support services in place, affected communities could access hot meals and essential information to navigate the aftermath of Storm Amy. As the winds eventually subsided, the resilience and solidarity displayed amidst the chaos offered a glimmer of hope for those affected by the devastating storm

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More