Storms show up flaws in Harris power cut communication links
A series of ferocious storms have seen Harris face school and business closures, communication failures and the most extended power cuts for
several years, leaving some residents isolated and unable to call for help.
While phone connectivity and electricity have now been restored, the situation
highlighted a lack of emergency resilience and has seen residents demand an urgent review of options, particularly for the most vulnerable members of the community.
Gusts of up to 80mph during Stor Boelo saw an island-wide power cut that lasted throughout Sunday, and more high winds led to a further power cut on Tuesday morning, affecting some areas all day.
On both occasions, mobile phone coverage stalled and copper-wire landlines, previously a power-free backup in such circumstances, no longer functioned.
“It was a horrible situation, to wake up isolated an unable to call to check on neighbours or find out how long the power was likely to be off,” said Ardvourlie resident Cristina McAvoy.
“One neighbour relies on electric for their recliner bed and being unable to call to make sure they were out, I felt compelled to go out in the height of the storm to check, which wasn’t a wise move in the weather conditions. A power cut is one thing, but being
without communication makes the situation much, much worse.”
While some mobile phones had a signal in some locations, the lack was
pronounced in the most rural areas, highlighting an inequality in provision
and leading many to travel in dangerous conditions to check on friends and
family, or find a signal to contact them.
In Northton, GP Dr Andrew Naylor had to be fetched in person to attend to a
medical emergency, when he could not be reached by phone (as reported on
welovestornoway). He then needed to drive to find a phone signal to call an
ambulance for his patient.
Crossroads Harris, which provides respite care for carers and supports
elderly residents, reported that it was left unable to check on clients.
“I was worried about our clients,” said Crossroads Secretary Morag Munro. “I
could not get in touch with any of them and I couldn't get in touch with care
attendants. I was banking on the fact that all the ones living alone had the
Faire Alarm.
However, I discovered on Monday that Faire was also down. It was a worrying time and a relief on Monday, when I was eventually able to contact
some, to find that they were OK - thanks to family and neighbours. However, it
was a wake-up call and shows our present contingency plans are not adequate.”
Western Isles MP Torcuil Crichton was contacted by residents and raised this
issue in parliament on Wednesday, calling on ministers to review
emergency connectivity and demand phone providers ‘up their digital game’.
“Can I press the minister to call the phone companies in, get them to build
up digital resilience – not in the easy places, but on the edge, where people
are isolated, where the ambulance is an hour away and the wind is blowing at
70mph,” he said.
Councillor and Scalpay resident Kenny MacLeod has also been working to
address local concerns.
“As well as raising this with our MP and MSP I am meeting with the Comhairle’s
Emergency Planning Officer to update him on the problems and to look at how
we can resolve these challenges. Taking away our analogue phone lines without
a suitable working alternative was so wrong and we need to find a solution. It
is not safe having people going outside or driving around to get a signal during
severe storms like we had at the weekend.”
Despite the challenges, the storm also saw a widespread community response,
with people braving the weather to check on their neighbours and provide
hot meals.
Community centres with generator options opened their doors to offer hot
water, drinks and device-charging facilities, shops remained open in tough
conditions and welfare support was on offer at the Harris Hotel. For those who
needed, free showers were offered at the Harris Sports Centre.
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