Multi-agency planning group meets to discuss storm

A multi-agency emergency planning group has met to discuss the severe weather conditions brought by Storm Gertrude.

The harsh conditions brought 100mph gusts, as well as widespread disruption, following a MET office red – take action – alert this afternoon.

The red alert was changed to amber at 4pm, and is due to change again to a yellow warning for wind and snow, which will remain valid until 6pm tomorrow.

A flood alert was earlier issued due to the storm force winds causing a risk of coastal flooding. Disruption is expected on exposed coastal areas. High tide at Lerwick took place at 2pm today, though the risk is expected to extend into the evening.

Information is also available through a Floodline number on 0345 9881188, and a power track app from SSE is available on www.ssepd.co.uk/Powertrack/, which gives information on any power cuts.

Earlier today a high-sided vehicle left the A970 at Gulberwick, although no-one was injured. There has been widespread disruption to services, and Loganair’s flight schedule for the day was earlier suspended.

Information on disrupted council services is available from the SIC’s website.

COMMENTS(2)

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  • Paul stemp

    • January 30th, 2016 2:07

    How much will this cost to find out it was windy!

    REPLY
  • John Tulloch

    • January 30th, 2016 8:31

    I wonder how the folk coped a hundred-odd years ago when the “tidal wave” flooded Lerwick and storm waves destroyed the Pictish dwellings on the banks, south by Levenwick and other times when, as my late Mam told me, they found dead ollacks in the rigs at Gletness, after a bad storm?

    We’ve become terribly dependent on authorities and multi-agency meetings, these days – I’m no exception, by the way – and yet these are the same authorities who permit vast swathes of flood plain to be used for homebuilding and who destroy natural drainage by banning the dredging of waterways, causing people, periodically, to require rescue by military-style “multi-agency” operations.

    As anybody who has ever had to walk the Ayre of Clickimin on a “coorse day” will testify, even at sea level, it isn’t a place you would choose to build your house. Yet our wise authorities are proposing to build houses over the very top of the Staney Hill?

    Well, possibly, they can be designed and built to withstand the conditions however, I lived for a short time on top of a much smaller hill in the Western Isles and I for one will not be moving to the top of the Staney Hill.

    REPLY

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