Storm Arwen: Care workers battle to help people left without power or water

As gale force winds and rain battered the UK during Storm Arwen, home care staff battled to help people needing care at home – as thousands of people were stranded without electricity in their homes.

Uprooted trees blocked roads in some parts of the UK but that didn’t stop a home care worker from Westmorland Homecare, who decided to spend the night in a bed and breakfast so that she could keep making care visits to people's homes the next day.

'Frightened'

Frightened and distressed elderly and disabled people found comfort in their care workers, many of whom visited people in their own time to reassure and support those reliant on care.

Westmorland Homecare’s senior care co-ordinator Amy Cooper said a care worker was with an elderly housebound client at 10pm on Friday night (26 November), when the lights began flickering in the storm and the woman, who did not have a torch, became increasingly frightened and distressed.

“The staff member went home, found her own torch and returned in her own time to leave it with the lady so she would not be in the dark if power was lost, which did eventually happen”, said Amy Cooper.

‘It gives me goosebumps’

As Storm Arwen caused damage to electricity power lines and disrupted water supplies, some of the worst affected areas of the UK were the North East of Scotland and Cumbria.

Ms Cooper said of another care worker who could not get home because a tree had blocked the road: “She decided to stay in a bed and breakfast in Ambleside so she could carry out her calls to clients on Saturday morning.”

When an elderly woman’s power went off, another care worker ignored the fact it was her weekend off, to visit the lady and bring her a warm drink and hot water bottle until the woman’s son could collect her on Saturday night.

The home care worker also emptied the woman’s fridge and freezer and took the contents to her own home temporarily until power was restored.

“It gives me goosebumps to think about what out staff have done”, said Ms Cooper.

“They have all worked above and beyond. I had staff who were not on duty this weekend ringing me to say: ‘How can I help?’ The things our staff did this weekend meant the world to those who were cut off and without family nearby. Our carers became a lifeline for them.”

Dr Chris Moss, one of the directors of Westmorland Homecare, struggled with access himself because of a fallen tree in South Lakeland, Cumbria.

Disruption from Storm Arwen greater than 'Beast from the East'

Also in Cumbria, Balhousie Care Group (@BalhousieCare) tweeted: ‘What a tough 24 hours a massive thanks to the whole team who have gone above and beyond to assist in storm #Arwen its been tough in #Cumbria.

‘Sending out a huge thank you to ‘McDonaldsUK Arbroath supplying tea and coffee for @Balhousie Care residents through #StormArwen Everything feels better with a cuppa!’

Abbey House care home in Kirriemuir, Angus in Scotland was left without power from 6.30pm on Friday night as a result of Storm Arwen. After a social media appeal by the care home, locals supplied generators and heaters on Saturday afternoon.

The care home stated in its appeal: 'Abbey House Residential care home has suffered some damage to the roof and is currently still within the area without any electricity.

'The back-up generator has been damaged…and power may not be back on until tomorrow (Sunday) morning. We are looking for any portable gas heating etc to help in the interim.'

After only a few hours, the care home gave an update, stating: ‘We now have a petrol generator working and there is light. And heat, more importantly. Thank you all for your help and hopefully the power companies have it all back up and running sooner than later.’ Power was fully restored around 11.30am on Sunday morning.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has said the damage caused by Storm Arwen is at least three times greater than that experienced from the 'Beast from the East' storm in 2018.

Rest centres have been established and hot food and drinks are being supplied to people, many of whom have been without electricity since Friday afternoon. Scottish Water said it was continuing work to restore water supplies to customers and has been delivering bottled water.

Vulnerability of certain people is an 'ongoing concern'

A statement from Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (29 November) about power in the region, revealed: ‘The picture is changing quite dramatically and despite continuing efforts, it is now expected that it may take several days to have all our communities reconnected by SSEN.

‘The company is sourcing additional generators to facilitate the provision of welfare and care to our most vulnerable communities at this time. Diesel has now been provided for back-up generators in our community hospitals and care homes in Aberdeenshire.

'An ongoing concern to all partners is the vulnerability of certain people within our communities, and the Local Resilience Partnership is doing all it can to provide support. However we would encourage communities to continue to keep an eye on vulnerable and elderly neighbours who may be requiring additional assistance.'

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