Families spend six nights in cold and dark after devastation of electricity network around Huntly by Storm Arwen
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HUNDREDS of properties in the rural area around Huntly remain without electricity supplies.
Many people spent a sixth night in the cold and dark last night after losing power when winds, gusting to up to 90 mph, tore through the area on Friday.
Falling trees brought down wires, cut off roads and blocked the main Aberdeen to Inverness rail line resulting in passengers spending a long night on board at Huntly station.
The scale of the devastation became apparent on Saturday morning but things got worse when heavy snow hit the area and then mains water supplies to the town and rural villages were cut off.
Teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) supported by as many as eight helicopters, were out at first light to assess the damage but access to faults has proved challenging due to fallen trees and closed roads.
As The Huntly Express went to print, over 5000 homes in Aberdeenshire, remained without power, many around Huntly.
During the outage, communities rallied round - checking on elderly neighbours and offering hot drinks and food where possible.
In Rhynie, Fourteen, the Church's community hall was requisitioned by a team of volunteers.
Shop owner, Anne Lyne donated ingredients for sandwiches and bacon rolls and assisted by Phyllis Beverly, Kate Hunter and Mary Armstrong and an army of helpers served up soup, sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks to anyone who went along.
Local businessman, Brian Beverly loaned a generator which blew warm air into the setting and people gathered in good numbers, glad of respite from the cold and company.
Further donations of food were handed in before the centre was stood down mid afternoon on Tuesday when power was restored.
Mrs Lyne said: "A lot of people had absolutely no heating at all. One woman spent the day with us and told us she would just go home and go to her bed by the light and warmth from two candles.
"SSEN sent in a free chip van on Tuesday and Mark's Little Kitchen came and was doing meals for half price which was generous of him."
Mrs Hunter added: "A team of volunteers went and knocked on doors to see if people were able to come to Fourteen and if not, hot food was delivered to them. We were working in about a six mile radius."
A local farmer provided a tank of water for people to flush toilets
The Reverend Kay Gauld from Insch rallied a team of helpers, including local firefighters and they ferried hot soup and other supplies to McKay Court in Rhynie as well as to Lumsden, Premnay, Oyne and Old Rayne.
At McKay Court, it was the 79th birthday of Charlie Greig who said the hot soup and sandwiches were the best present he could have wished for.
The owner of Lumsden Garage fired up a barbecue to provide hot food and in Huntly The Larder and Neep and Okra provided soup free of charge to people without electricity.
On Tuesday afternoon Aberdeenshire Council set up a rest centre at the Tin Hut, Gartly. Huntly Swimming Pool has been inviting people to use facilities there to shower.
Schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday while safety checks were carried out and on Wednesday, Cairney, Glass, Largue, Lumsden and Rhynie remained closed.
Access to Gordon Primary was restricted due to fallen trees.
As the outage continued, SSEN actively encouraged customers to take advantage of enhanced welfare provisions.
A spokesman said: "If any customer is without power and is unable to make alternative arrangements to stay with family or a friend, SSEN will reimburse all reasonable costs for alternative accommodation.
"Customers who can coordinate this themselves are encouraged to do so and send receipts to SSEN for reimbursement."
SSEN say the network remains fragile and is likely to suffer additional damage if there is more bad weather
Anyone seeking reimbursement of costs as a result of the power outage can contact SSEN by e-mail to networks.executivecomplaints@SSEN.co.uk with a photograph of the receipt and making the subject of the e-mail “Storm Arwen – Refund of Costs” or by letter to Aberdeen Depot, 200 Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen, AB16 5NY with the receipt.
