CALLS for immediate assistance and long-term support to rebuild and recover from Storm Eowyn have been in heard in Galloway this week.
Wigtownshire was the first part of the region to be hit as the storm came over from Ireland last Friday. By midday the average wind speed locally had got up to 88 mph – anything over 73mph is classed as a hurricane.
Galloway and West MSP Finlay Carson called on political parties to work together to build more ‘resilient and inclusive’ communities as the country faces more violent and frequent storms in the future.
Speaking at Holyrood on Tuesday, he revealed much of the impact locally equated to 100 days of damage in less than three days with more than 51,000 homes affected. One of the most critical issues, Mr Carson explained, had been the serious disruption of digital and mobile phone services. He said: “In many rural areas, the storm has crippled telecommunications infrastructure, leaving residents isolated and unable to communicate with emergency services or loved ones.
“The inadequacies and failings of the new digital voice service now need to be urgently reviewed. It has highlighted the urgent need for investment in more resilient telecom infrastructure to ensure that our communities remain connected, even in the face of severe weather events.”
Mr Carson also praised the efforts by SPEN in helping to support the most vulnerable in our communities, he continued: “We’ve gone from over 200,000 households off at the peak to under 1,000 today and I know their engineers are pushing really hard to get as man if not all back today.”
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP praised the tireless work of the local authority, Police Scotland and emergency services. He singled out also the amazing efforts of volunteer resilience workers like Hazel Smith and her team in Whithorn ensuring the safety of everyone in one of the most badly affected areas.
He told Parliament: “Reports have emerged of elderly residents and those with disabilities being left in cold homes without electricity or support, some without water as they need power to pump their water.
“Indeed the lack of power has also impacted farms, with water pumps failing and livestock put at risk.”
