29 January 2022

Storm Malik Update 3: 29.1.22 @ 13:15

The Met Office Amber weather warning for strong winds remains in place, and we are now seeing impacts across parts of Aberdeenshire.

Can we please ask as a matter of urgency that you share this briefing through any means at your disposal or channels you may have – be that digital, through word of mouth/printed copies etc. – to make our communities as prepared as possible.

An Aberdeenshire Council IMT has reconvened to review impacts from Storm Malik and our readiness to respond. We will continue to meet throughout the weekend to review and ensure services are deployed as required.

Strong winds continue to make their way eastward out to sea. However, there are still some very strong gusts hitting our region. Furthermore, a second storm front (named Corrie) is making its way towards us with impact likely to hit late Sunday and into Monday. We will update as we get more information.

Current impacts

There is an increasing number of power outages across the area with Inverurie, Kintore, Kemnay, Fyvie, Turriff and Deeside particularly badly impacted. There is an estimated 30,000 homes without power currently in the Grampian region.

SSEN have engineers out across the area and people should continue to report and track estimated restoration times on the SSEN website or App https://www.ssen.co.uk/PowerCuts/

There are many, many reports of fallen trees, some on our major roads including the AWPR. Roads teams have mobilsed and are out to assessing damage and removing debris. This will take some time and our advice, and that of Police Scotland, is that people should not travel unnecessarily.

All reports of fallen trees etc. should be reported to Police Scotland on 101.

We are getting reports of damage to some council owned buildings. Property teams and partners are already out assessing damage and looking at what repairs will be required. Council tenants should call 03456 08 12 03 to report any damage and requests for emergency repairs.

Property and Education Teams will be out inspecting schools as soon as it is safe to do so. We will update as soon as we know if there is any damage at any school which will impact on a school opening as usual on Monday morning.

There are a number of Care Homes currently without power. Some have generators other do not and colleagues from Aberdeenshire HSCP and property are currently working to support homes as best we are able.

LLA have opened all their sites, with power, to anyone that needs a hot shower, warmth or power. Unfortunately, Alford Community Campus and Ellon Community Campus are without power.

We anticipate food trucks being deployed by SSEN to areas without power, imminently.

Update from SSEN @ 11am

As of 11am this morning, we have experienced over 120 faults on our high voltage network and have successfully restored power to over 3,800 customers in extremely challenging conditions.

Around 48,500 customers currently remain off supply, with the main areas affected being Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perthshire and the Moray Coast.
With high winds forecast to continue throughout the day, some customer supplies may not be restored until tomorrow. As our teams continue to assess the damage caused to our network and the extent of repairs needed, customer restoration times will be updated accordingly.

We are also monitoring a second weather front, named by the Met Office as Storm Corrie, which is forecast to impact the north of Scotland from tomorrow afternoon and which has the potential to cause further damage and faults to our electricity network.

Customers are being encouraged to be prepared for the possibility of disruption to supplies by:

Emergency numbers

Power outages should be reported to SSEN by calling 105
Fallen trees and debris should be reported to Police Scotland by calling 101
Non urgent injuries or health concerns – please call NHS 24 on 111
Council Tenants should report damage to our emergency housing repairs line on 03456 08 12 03

Finally, we would encourage people to please, check on any elderly or vulnerable neighbours or friends, even if the power is still on. Sometimes at times of stress a friendly face can make all the difference.