The Army is deployed to aid thousands of victims still without power one week after Storm Arwen devastated the country.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, said that 130 troops were sent to Grampian Region in Northern Scotland. This region is home to 3,000 people who have lost heat and light due to 100mph gales which damaged power lines.
More than 4,000 houses will be inspected by troops, as well as remote areas being supported with welfare services. The North East of England also has suffered stormy weather damage and soldiers are being deployed.
Durham County Council declares a major emergency. Up to 13,000 properties are still without electricity in Teesdale and Weardale.
Nearly a million households were hit by power shortages over the last week. However, electricity was restored to 960,000 homes, according to the Government.
John Hewitt from Durham County Council said that there were still up to 5k properties without electricity in Durham County. Mr Hewitt told Radio 4’s Today Programme that this was ‘still a significant number’ and said he expects military aid to arrive this morning.
Ministers had been accused earlier of overseeing a “national scandal” in which thousands of people were subject to freezing temperatures of as low as 6C over the course of this week.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is responsible for power distribution to 3.7million homes in central England and Scotland. The company aims to restore power in all affected areas by Friday.
SSEN will reimburse costs for alternative accommodation for those who cannot stay at home or with family and friends because they are powerless.
Johnson said, “It was very, very large storm. We will do everything possible to assist people.
Soldiers from Gordon Barracks, before they were deployed in areas of Aberdeenshire that are still experiencing power disruptions
Today is likely to bring more snow to Scotland, before it moves towards the South East. Rain is forecast for northern parts. The temperatures in the eastern parts of Scotland will reach 2C (35.6F), while those in western Scotland may hit 4C (39.2F). Highs in England may reach 3C (37.4F), 4C (39.2F) on Thursday. There could be some cloud and sunny spells later. On Saturday, a band of rain will move towards the South East. Then it will be sunny with some wintry showers to the West. After early wintry showers along the coast, there will be plenty of sunshine Sunday.
Marines from 45 Commando are seen conducting welfare checks in Lumphanan, Scotland
See 45 Commando Marines conducting welfare checks in Lumphanan (Scotland)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said around 130 troops have been sent to the Grampian region of northern Scotland, where 3,000 homes have no heat or light after 100mph gales caused damage to power lines
Undated handout photo issued by the National Trust of a fallen tree at Wray Castle in the Lake District
Free bottles of water are seen left for residents in Lumphanan, Scotland on December 2, 2021
A tractor tries to help a bus driver today after the vehicle came off the road in icy conditions near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
‘There were about 19,000 homes without (power) this morning. We have got that down to about 16,000. That is no consolation for the 16,000 who are still suffering but we are working flat out to help you.’
Over the past few days, representatives from the council, Durham and County Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Durham Constabulary, the Mountain Rescue Service, Northumbrian Water and Northern Powergrid have been providing information on the support available, along with bottled water and phone-charging points.
Conservative MP for North West Durham Richard Holden said he had spoken to defence minister James Heappey who had confirmed around 100 troops are being deployed to the area ‘and will be on the ground in north east England from tomorrow’.
More rain, sleet and snow fell in south-western parts of the UK yesterday, while wintry showers have affected the North and East. The Met Office said the showers were confined to Norfolk last night, with gales easing along the North Sea coast.
More snow is expected to hit Scotland today before moving towards the South East, and rain is predicted for north-western parts.
Eastern parts of Scotland are predicted to have highs of 2C (35.6F) while western Scotland could reach 4C (39.2F). Across England there may be highs of 3C (37.4F) and 4C on Thursday, with some sunny spells and cloud later.
A band of rain will push towards the South East on Saturday morning then sunny spells along with wintry showers in the West. There will be lots of sunshine on Sunday after early wintry showers in coastal areas.
As for a White Christmas, bookmakers Coral said there was a 67 per cent chance of snow falling somewhere in Britain on Christmas Day.
See 45 Commando Marines conducting welfare checks in Lumphanan (Scotland)
See 45 Commando Marines conducting welfare checks in Lumphanan (Scotland)
Soldiers from Gordon Barracks, before they were deployed in areas of Aberdeenshire that are still experiencing power disruptions
Yesterday’s photograph of a snow-covered powerline was released by the Energy Networks Association.
According to the Met Office, the forecast indicates that weather will be more stable around Christmas and New Year. There is also a higher chance of fogging and frost during clearer periods.
Clare Pennington is from Newtyle, Angus. She is currently without power for six days and has been living in a homestead while she builds a new house.
According to the sustainability project manager, it has been just as cold in my house as outside. Since Friday there was no heat, water or light.
“We feel completely forgotten about.” It was cold last night.
“It is very cold and damp. Although I haven’t experienced an asthma attack in many years, it can make my chest feel tight and wheezy. The constant excuse that the weather is unpredicted is what I find so frustrating.
Although it may seem unusual, climate scientists know that it has been happening for years. The worst part is that our electricity infrastructure is getting older and unprepared.
Jim McMahon from Labour, shadow environment secretary said that thousands were left without electricity for days. This was especially true in rural areas and other remote locations. Yet, most of them have been abandoned by the Government.
Ministers’ reassurances from hundreds of miles away are completely meaningless when many can’t cook or charge their phones properly.
“The Conservatives should get on their feet and make sure there’s resilient infrastructure in place to handle the worst storms that we know will be coming from the climate crisis.
According to the Energy Networks Association, it plans to connect all homes by Friday.
Moment farmer rushes to dig sheep out of the 10ft snowfall in stormy weather.
- Nev and Kate Barker braved the blizzards to save sheep from their Staffordshire farm.
- After Storm Arwen, a couple spent hours searching for their flock.
- After getting trapped under a 10-foot snowdrift, three ewes were eventually found.
- As snow and ice followed, temperatures plunged to 24.8F (-4C).
Jacob Thorburn for MailOnline
The dramatic footage shows the moment that a farmer couple was forced to remove their sheep from 10ft of snowdrift caused by Storm Arwen.
Nev and Kate Barker had spent hours searching for their lost flock after heavy snow had fallen on their Staffordshire farm.
The rescue team realized that three of their ewes were trapped beneath the snow. They had to quickly act to free them.
Nev Barker and Kate, farmers from Staffordshire spent hours searching for their lost sheep after heavy snowfall near their Staffordshire farm in the Peak District.
The dramatic footage shows Nev Barker pulling one of the three Herdwick ewes from a snowdrift at 10 feet during Storm Arwen.
The weekend saw temperatures drop to just 24.8F (-4C), due to a blanket of snow and Ice that engulfed much of the Midlands, and North-West England.
The footage shows Nev struggling through the “brutal” weather while he digs holes for confused sheep to get out.
He urges the animal toward him by shouting and clapping: “Come on, Come on!” But the effort of the couple is in vain, as the animal remains down on the floor.
The ewe emerges after several minutes. Its snow-encrusted hair indicates that the animal was kept under the mountain for several hours.
Nev, 48 and Kate, 49 have a smallholding close to Leek. They own 50 sheep, which they use for their breeding purposes and as wool.
Storm Arwen raked northern England last week. The pair initially didn’t seem to be bothered by their Herdwick flock, who are known for being tough.
They discovered that only 37 sheep had been accounted for after 10 feet of snow was accumulated over the course of the night.
Nev scrambles to find the sheep in the smallholding close to Leek.
Nev says “Come on, Come On” to the sheep. But initially it seems that the couple’s efforts were futile.
The pair realized that only 37 of their precious four-legged prize possessions had been found after snowfall of 10 feet during Saturday’s night.
Nev and Kate began to worry about the disappearance of their flock members as they walked around the acreage.
Kate stated that the access to our fields was only thick and dense with drifts.
“We could see our waists and we felt like we were sinking.” Panic took over.
“We crawled over the sheds to find most of them hiding there.
“We dug out the back of the shed so the flock could access it. They also needed some water and relief from the elements. It’s instinctual.
However, some sheep were not found so the couple used a knife to dig through the bigger snow drifts (above), looking for them.
Nev Barker (pictured), rescues one Herdwick sheep during dangerous Storm Arwen conditions
The horns protruding from the top of the drifts make them visible. Another group of Rams had to also be pulled out of an identical situation.
However, some of their sheep were not found so the couple used a knife to dig through the deeper snowdrifts in search.
Three ewes had been found in a drift more than 10ft high.
Nev is seen digging the first ewe out with his hands before tempting her to come out.
After several minutes, she finally felt brave enough to let go of the igloo where she was trapped.
She huddled two more sheep behind her, and they were all taken to the sheds for recuperation. They were miraculously all healthy.
Nev saves a sheep with snow-encrusted hair after it got stuck under 10ft tall piles of snow created by Storm Arwen
After Storm Arwen caused 10ft snowdrifts, conditions did not return back to normal until Tuesday November 30,
A second group of rams, visible only by their horns peeking out of the tops of the drifts, had to also be excavated from an identical situation in another field.
Nev is now a joiner, while Kate used to be a country ranger.
The smallholding they have is located at the Peak District National Park’s edge. Temperatures dropped to 24.8F (-4) over the weekend.
Actually, it wasn’t until Tuesday, November 30 that things really began to thaw.
Nev stated that they treat their sheep as family members and wouldn’t be able to bear for them to go.
He stated, “It’s like you have your pet dog in the snow. You want them to be out so they can get back up.”
Kate stated that “the conditions were horrible.” “But miraculously they’re okay and running around in the fields as if nothing has ever happened.”
Kate Barker (an ex-country ranger) poses with one their beloved Herdwick Sheep, at their Staffordshire farm
Nev Barker is a joiner. Nev Barker (pictured) was a joiner who crawled down to save sheep trapped under snow.
Nev, Kate and their dog were walking through the fields of their farm when they became more concerned about missing sheep. Pictured: The sheep peeks out of a snow pile.