Above and beyond – Huntly rallies to support Storm Gerrit-stranded motorists, with Asda Huntly, Gordon Arms Hotel and the Huntly Community Fire Station lending hand
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AMID dreadful traffic conditions caused by Storm Gerrit, Huntly came together to support those stranded in the town.
The A96 was closed at the railway bridge towards the Strathbogie Service Station due to flooding for nearly two days which began on Wednesday, December 27, with a similar closure affecting The Gullet, on the A97 Bogie Street.
Difficult conditions were also experienced on the Corsemaul, on the A920 towards Dufftown.
But Huntly rose to the challenge – with the Gordon Arms Hotel, the Huntly Community Fire Station and Asda Huntly, among others, stepping up to look after those stranded by the conditions.
Locals also took to social media to offer lifts, help and items. The Gordon Arms Hotel took in stranded drivers affected by the impassable A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, which was shut from around 4pm last Wednesday to 10.40pm the following night.
Hotel staff had to open up more of the building, including the hostel section, to accomodate the numbers of those needing a bed.
Huntly Community Fire Station also joined the storm relief effort, with three firefighters volunteering to open the Stewart’s Hall to look after those affected. Asda Huntly staff came together to aid more than 200 stranded motorists, which included pregnant women and entire families. Led by newly-promoted replenishment section manager Rebecca MacDougall, the team sheltered motorists in the store’s café and gave them free hot food and drinks, blankets and access to phone chargers.
Many spent the night at the store before a diversion was opened.
Ms MacDougall (22) only started her first management role a few weeks ago, but took charge of the situation helped by colleagues Lorraine Birtles, Tracy Bean and Rhys McWilliams.
“The storm hit at about 8am, when we’d already sent our home shopping drivers out,” she said.
"It was such heavy rain – worse than I've seen before.
"There was water coming in, so we were getting buckets to clear it out, and then it meant that the main roads had to be closed.
"People were stranded everywhere so looked to us as a safe place to seek refuge as we're right next to the A96, which is the main road from Aberdeen to Inverness."
She added: "We brought anyone who needed shelter into our café to keep safe and warm.
"We had everyone, including young families on their way home after Christmas, diabetics and a pregnant woman, but thankfully everyone was OK.
"We gave them hot food and coffee, blankets and anything else they needed like phone chargers, and kept them updated on the situation. There were around 200 or so people in total throughout the day."
The young manager was also full of praise for her staff
"Lorraine, who works on our hot food counter, did an amazing job. She was cooking food for everyone and making sure they all had something to eat. Tracy and Rhys work on front end so they were letting people who were in the car park know what was going on and letting them know they could come inside. They were really good.
"It was a long day and everyone was really tired by the end, but I'm so glad I was able to help. This was a big test and everyone pulled together and helped."
Store manager Linda Morrison says she was so proud of the way shop staff took charge of the situation.
Linda said: "It was a rather unique situation, but Rebecca and the team handled it superbly.
"Everyone rose to the challenge and went out of their way to help people, so I'm exceptionally proud of them all. But Rebecca deserves special praise because this was her first Christmas in charge and she's done an exemplary job in really challenging circumstances.
"I'd like to give a big shout-out to the home shopping team too because the drivers were out in the worst of the weather and were called into action helping people.
"They carried on with their deliveries for as long as possible until the roads were so bad that they had to come back to store.
"They all did an outstanding job."
