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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

UK storm: Power cuts ‘will remain until Boxing Day’

Anyone still cut off from power following the recent storms is
unlikely to have it restored until Boxing Day, the Energy Networks
Association says.

Some 37,000 homes are without electricity in south and south-east
England after rain and wind lashed the UK in the run-up to Christmas.

Flooding caused disruption across England and Wales, with 150
properties flooded – mainly in Surrey and Kent.
Two severe flood warnings remain in place in Dorset.

The warning – meaning there is a danger to life – is still in place
for Iford Bridge Home Park on the River Stour in Dorset, which police
evacuated overnight.

Liz Gaere, 48, was rescued from the residential development at around
07:00 GMT on Christmas morning.

"We went out on our balcony and saw the flooding and saw the boats
coming in," she said.

"They said to us 'do you want to come out, you've got five minutes'."

A 79-year-old neighbour Pat Tapply added: "I have nothing apart from
what I am standing in. I don't know if my home is flooded."

People were also evacuated from the Beaulieu Garden Park Home in
Christchurch, Dorset – where a severe flood warning is also in place.

Tim Field from the Energy Networks Association told the BBC that those
who still had their power cut off were unlikely to have it restored on
Christmas Day.

Leave had been cancelled and extra staff had been brought in to fix
the problem, he said.
However, Mr Field said areas still experiencing power cuts would need
major work and many were also in areas that could not be reached due
to flooding.

UK Power Networks, which supplies about eight million customers in the
South East, says it arranged Christmas dinner for hundreds of those
without power via a mobile catering facility, pubs, restaurants and
hotels.

Meanwhile, about 800 homes in the north of Scotland are still without
power, mainly around the Banchory, Buchan and Aboyne areas in
Aberdeenshire, and Forres and Fochabers in Elgin.
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said it was hoped all
properties would be reconnected on Christmas Day.

Some of the worst disruption was felt at Gatwick Airport in West
Sussex, where a power outage at the North terminal led to
cancellations and delays on Christmas Eve.

Gatwick Airport is now running a full service, but says all flights
apart from those with British Airways will be departing from the South
terminal. It also advises people to check with airlines before
travelling.

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