Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordination Group – situation update
An update following a meeting of the Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordination Group this afternoon:
Ferries
Both internal and external ferry services in Orkney continue to experience disruptions. Watch operator and local press websites.
Roads
- All roads on the Orkney Mainland are open.
- The Churchill Barriers will be reviewed at 19:00 in advance of the high tides at 21:00.
- The B9047 at South Walls in Hoy will remain closed while Council engineers assess the road condition. The causeway could remain closed throughout the weekend. The public are urged to observe this and any road closure barriers in place for their safety.
- Additional foot passenger ferries are being arranged to carry people between Lyness and Longhope – refer to the Orkney Ferries website for details.
The MET Office is forecasting snow, drifting and blizzard conditions this afternoon. Â Motorists should take extreme care and drive according to road conditions and make sure their vehicle is adequately equipped for severe weather driving.
Utilities
- Residents in Orkney are urged to conserve water. Scottish Water is asking farmers to check their field troughs and to switch off any that are not needed, in order to help preserve water supplies. Also, should any customers on the Orkney Mainland, including Burray and South Ronaldsay, notice a burst pipe, they should contact the Scottish Water helpline on 0845 601 8855 immediately in order that repairs can be made as soon as possible.
- Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay, Eday, Rousay, Shapinsay and part of St Ola on the Orkney mainland are without power. SSE Engineers are working to resolve the issues.
Telecare service
Disruptions to power supplies in some areas of Orkney and may have affected some Community Care Alarms.
All alarms have a battery back up and should be operating as normal, but because the power interruptions have been going on over a period of time if you are concerned about anyone you know who has a Community Care Alarm please get in touch with them and check on their welfare.
All systems should automatically return to normal once the power is restored. If you or someone you know is experiencing ongoing problems once power is restored please contact the Telecare team at the Council Offices on 873535
Keeping in touch
Barrier updates from OIC –Â http://www.facebook.com/pages/
OIC Updates (Facebook – school closures) – http://www.facebook.com/pages/
Northern Constabulary website –Â http://www.northern.police.uk/
Northern Constabulary Twitter page –Â http://twitter.com/#!/