Efforts to restore power after 'Armageddon' storm praised
A Highland Perthshire councillor has praised efforts to restore power to stricken communities.
Pylon repairs in the wake of Thursday's storm.
- By Paul Reoch
- Published in the Courier : 12.12.11
- Published online : 12.12.11 @ 11.54am
Kate Howie described the hurricane-force storms which battered Scotland on Thursday as ''like Armageddon'', but feels Scottish and Southern Energy, Perth and Kinross Council, Tayside Police and NHS Tayside all played their part in helping hamlets in Highland Perthshire — many of which had been without electricity for three days.
SSE said it was confident that around 200 homes would be fully restored, including in Blair Atholl and Calvine.
Some engineers worked from 6am to 11pm.
A rest centre at Pitlochry High School had hot showers and food for anyone without power and the council provided a bus to pick up residents from the Atholl Arms and the village shop.
Twenty-five volunteers from the Civil Defence Agency, the British Red Cross, Tayside 4x4 response, the special constabulary and retained firefighters also helped.
Pitlochry fish and chip shop The Plaice To Be even handed out free chips on Saturday after power cuts shut their freezers down.
Power was restored to Ballinluig at 10.30pm on Friday and to Pitlochry an hour later.
Ms Howie said: ''There was very good organisation between the council, SSE and emergency services considering the conditions.
Impressed
''I was out all day on Saturday in Blair Atholl, Calvine and Killicrankie and at 2pm an SSE engineer told me that power could be back on in five hours and it came on in five hours and 10 minutes, so I was very impressed.
''And I spoke to an engineer on Friday who told me had was working from 6am until 11pm to get power back on.''
She added: ''I was driving on the A9 on Thursday and passed Murthly and Caputh and witnessed the conditions these engineers had to face — it was like Armageddon.''
An SSE spokesman told The Courier it was aiming to restore power to 200 homes on Sunday night.
He said: ''We're hoping it's business as usual and that everyone is restored today.
''Due to the network being weakened we may take some customers off again for a time but that is something we can control.
''The better weather has helped but we are keeping an eye on it.''
Helicopter survey
He added: ''SSE used helicopters to identify damage and hundreds of engineers worked late into Friday night and recommenced work at 6am on Saturday.
''Every effort was made by staff to contact registered priority customers who were without power to arrange mobile generation wherever possible.
''SSE continue to work to restore power to the remaining small number of homes, and has offered to reimburse residents affected who wish to go out to eat and/or stay overnight at a hotel.''
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said: ''SSE worked to restore power to around 10,000 homes across Scotland, including some communities in the Pitlochry area, particularly around Calvine and Blair Atholl.
''If anyone is affected by the loss of power, SSE can be contacted on 0800 300 999 for further information.
A Tayside Police spokesman said: ''With the return of power residents are being reminded, in the interests of safety, that it is important to check that appliances in their homes are switched off as necessary, particularly cookers that may have been on when power was initially interrupted, and that candles used during the power outage are properly extinguished.
''They are also advised to check that pilot lights are functioning normally.''
B&Q in Crieff Road, Perth, reported huge demand for butane gas after the power cuts.
During the power cuts, Heartland FM continued to run by using a generator.
Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Wire
03.33pm - 12.12.2011 Jane Timson - Pitlochry, Perthshire Report This
It's incredible to hear about all the things different "organisations" had to offer - yet most people in Pitlochry didn't know about them! Me thinks it's a great statement, yet wrong!
09.54pm - 13.12.2011 Sheila McMillan - Bermagui New South Wales, Australia Report This
My Dad aged 93 lives alone in Moulin and I am most grateful to friends and neighbours, who ensured he was OK during the time without electricity. Particular thanks to Gordon and Nora Finch and to Gordon Dilworth who ensured he was warm and had some hot food to keep him going.
10.59am - 14.12.2011 bill harvey - pitlochry, perthshire Report This
I don't feel there is much truth in this article. After My elderly parents had endured more than 24 hours without heating. I contacted SSE on 09/12 at 17.58 asking where I could get assistance, either from them or council. No help was available and they stated .No contact had been made with Council.
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