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Storm Eunice response and recovery update: Sunday 20 February


Sunday 20 February 2022, 12pm

As of 07:45 this morning 8,205 properties in Cornwall are still without power today (Sunday 20 February) as a result of Storm Eunice. Cornwall Council, along with our Fire and Rescue Service, is working hard with utility services, emergency and health services to help communities stay safe.

Cornwall Council has reinforced the call to residents to check on and look out for vulnerable neighbours, relatives and friends. Adding a new urgent call to people without power to keep safe while keeping warm - wrap up warm with blankets and extra layers, and do not put yourself at risk by using unsafe forms of heat.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) is working hard to restore power to half the affected homes by midnight tonight (Sunday) and the other half by midnight Monday. Many homes will be restored sooner. They have brought a fleet of generators into Cornwall overnight, with extra teams to install them and work on getting power supplies returned.

The community spaces in Bude and St Keverne Fire Stations are now closed as power has been returned in both towns and an alternative community space available in Bude.

  • The community spaces in Bodmin, Falmouth, Liskeard and Saltash Fire Stations remain open today: 10am to 6pm
  • We will also be opening a community centre in Mullion Fire Station today, until 6pm.

The stations are open for affected residents to access hot drinks, use microwaves, fill up flasks and hot water bottles and charge mobile phones.

Residents needing support can also ring the Council’s emergency number from 9am to 9pm throughout the weekend and on Monday on 01872 323752.

To report a power cut ring Western Power Distribution on 105.

Anyone with urgent but not life-threatening health concerns should ring 111.
If you are in danger, call 999.

Support for vulnerable people without power and heat in Cornwall

Cornwall Council is contacting town and parish council Community Emergency Plan groups to support their communities.

In addition Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and Devon and Cornwall Police are mobilising their teams of community police officers including PSO officers and Tri Service Safety Officers to check on residents without power.

Cornwall Councils is liaising with Volunteer Cornwall for volunteers to look out for vulnerable residents for the rest of the weekend and Monday.

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s Portfolio holder for environment is supporting the Cornwall Command Centre today. Martyn said:

“With the impacts of Storm Eunice still being felt across Cornwall and Storm Franklin named, we are appealing to people in Cornwall to please help by looking out for your neighbours, relatives and friends who are vulnerable and might be struggling this weekend.

“Our other urgent call is to people without power, to keep safe and keep warm. Please wrap up warm with blankets and extra layers, and do not put yourself at risk by using unsafe forms of heat.”

With Council and partners working flat out to support households without power, continue the clear up work on Cornwall’s roads, the focus of the Cornwall Tactical Command Group now is focusing on supporting vulnerable people without power.

  • We are under a Met Office yellow wind warning for Cornwall until 3pm today (Sunday). The Met Office has issued a Yellow Warning for wind gusts with Storm Franklin named. The storm is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the UK on Sunday and Monday.
  • There are now more than 8,205 homes in Cornwall without power, with Western Power Distribution (WPD) teams working hard to return power.
  • Western Power Distribution is continuing to provide support to properties with vulnerable occupants, where requested
  • There remain a number of fallen trees and properties with damaged roofs and whole roofs and roof debris causing issues. Cornwall Council Highways and CORMAC are continuing their clear up work to open roads as quickly as possible.
  • Great Western Railway have warned people not to travel unless essential as they work to clear the lines.
  • Inspections to damaged structures will be carried out once it is safe to do so.
  • All routine roadworks remain closed and Cornwall Council Highways and CORMAC crews are continuing to respond to issues on Cornwall’s road network.
  • The mass Covid vaccination site at Stithians is closed until Monday, while structural inspections take place.
How to get help or report a problem

Call 105 or visit www.powercut105.com to report a power cut.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) can offer hot food and alternative accommodation if required or reimburse the cost of hot food. If you or someone you know is worried or needs access to food and medication, the WPD support line is open 10am to 6pm on 0808 196 3651.

People without power can claim compensation from Western Power Distribution (WPD) for power cuts during severe weather of £70 as a domestic customer and £70 as a non-domestic customer if power is off for 24 hours (Storm Category 1) or 48 hours (Storm Category 2). Ofgem checks and verifies storm categories. You can get a further £70 for each additional 12 hours of being off supply, up to a total of £700.

Residents needing support can also ring the Council’s emergency number, from 9am to 9pm, throughout Sunday and Monday on 01872 323752.

The Red Cross can also support vulnerable people in need. Their phone line is open 10am to 6pm: 0808 196 3651.

To report a fallen tree, or blocked road or pavement, please call Cornwall Council on 0300 1234 222 (24 hour) and press option 1 or use our online report it form 

To report flooding, contact the Environment Agency Incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (24 hour). Be flood aware and prepare if you can, and know what to do if your home starts to flood or call the Environment Agency on 0345 988 1188 (24 hour).

Food bank schemes in your locations can be found at Let's Talk Cornwall website. 

Cornwall Council is providing emergency accommodation for anyone sleeping rough, please call 0300 1234 161.

Further information

For information on power outages please visit Western Power website

For information on help available from Western Power Distribution (WPD) please visit this link on their website: Layout 1 (westernpower.co.uk)

For traffic and travel information tune into local radio stations.

To keep up to date with the latest information please follow social media accounts

For National Rail travel enquiries call 03457 48 49 50 or visit their website

Updates for Transport for Cornwall bus services, including First Kernow, are posted on their Twitter feed

For Tamar Bridge and Tamar Ferry Crossings information, please refer to their website or social media for updates, or call the Ferry on 01752 812233.

For traffic and travel information visit https://www.heart.co.uk/cornwall/news/traffic-travel/

Winter Warm and Wellbeing

The Winter Wellbeing guides have useful advice and information. They cover staying warm, keeping well and being happy and safe this winter. Organisations that can offer support, Monday – Friday, include:

  • Volunteer Cornwall 01872 266988 or email requestforhelp@volunteercornwall.org.uk
  • Crisis Awards of up to £1,500 can help people in emergency or disaster situations with their immediate needs. Benefit contact centre: 0300 1234 121
  • Community Energy Plus: 0800 954 1956
  • Age UK Cornwall Helpline: 01872 266 383
  • Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service: 0800 358 1999
  • Disability Cornwall – lifestyle support scheme: 01736 697055 or email
    comf@disabilitycornwall.org.uk
  • Citizens Advice: 0800 1444 8848
  • Royal Voluntary Service: 0330 555 0310 (part of British Red Cross)
  • Royal British Legion offer financial support for emergency situations: 0800 802 8080.

The Fuel Petroleum Service (FPS) runs a Cold Weather Priority scheme. This is designed to identify those customers most vulnerable to cold conditions. It ensures that your fuel supplier knows who you are and where you are. They can then take appropriate steps to ensure fuel availability. This is especially true in times of fuel shortage or extreme cold weather. 

In Cornwall the following are members of the Fuel Petroleum Service (FPS): 

Keep safe while you keep warm – do not use unsafe forms of heat, wrap up in extra layers and blankets.

If you are in a situation where you believe you are in danger, call 999.

Storm Eunice update - Help for communities