A RESILIENCE masterplan has been created to ensure that Dumfries and Galloway Council can respond effectively to major storms in future.
This could result in as many as 80 warm hubs being set up right across the region if need be, as opposed to 11 created during Storm Eowyn in January this year.
Storm Eowyn devastated the region and more than 300 homes in Dumfries and Galloway were still without power five days afterwards.
The local authority has been working to improve its response in such extreme weather events. It is also being proposed that a joint ‘warmth and wellbeing contingency plan’ is created in partnership with Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) and recognised community resilience groups.
A report titled ‘strengthening resilience’ will be presented to Dumfries and Galloway Council’s education, skills and community wellbeing committee next Tuesday.
The document explained that the huge volume of fallen trees led to many power cuts and routes being blocked off which prevented emergency repairs.
The council then led the way in setting up warm hubs for affected residents.
The report states: “In total, 11 warm hubs were established and opened by noon the following day. The total amount of expenditure incurred across our council including rentals, food, staff costs is £22,289.50.
“As per the agreement with SPEN, they will reimburse the council in full for all operational costs associated with the warm hubs.”
The document also stated: “There were thousands of trees blown down across the region and widespread structural damage to buildings and infrastructure.
“Met Office warnings were largely accurate, and the National Text Alert System was used for the first time in Dumfries and Galloway.”
It has been arranged that councillors will be properly briefed when amber or red wind warnings are issued, while post-storm power restoration briefings will also take place with SPEN to provide updates on power supply to households.
Three phases of response are also being finely tuned: Phase one – initial damage assessment; phase two – commence individual needs assessment (including triage calls to the most vulnerable); and phase three – establishing and sustaining warm hubs.
The council report states: “Current planning estimates that potentially 50 to 80 sites could be pre-identified as potential warm hubs.
“This would result in between eight to ten sites per electoral ward but being determined by the remote and rural nature of the local geography.
“In determining the most appropriate delivery option it is anticipated that discussions with SPEN could see a tiered approach, depending again on local factors. Options currently being considered include a blended use of commercial (hotel/public house) and community resilience groups (community hall/other appropriate local asset).”
