Storm damage 30/1/13
Hundreds of homes across the Western Isles suffered power cuts due to high winds in the aftermath of last night’s storm.
Engineers are working to restore supplies for homes in Maraig, Harris, Ness, Plasterfield, Steinish, and Gress this evening.
Parts of Point, Uig, South Uist and North Uist were without electricity during the storm
Gusts of 99mph (86 knots) were recorded at an unofficial weather station in Eoropie, Ness on Lewis at half past midnight.
A number of coastal roads were littered with debris and shingle as the sea broke over. Coastguard volunteer teams were called in to help police officers guard the routes and ensure public safety.
Using their 4x4 vehicles, coastguard rescue teams from Griminish, Benbecula and Lochboisdale worked with police units to stand by flooded roads and causeways until conditions abated.
A house at Dunmore Crescent in Leverburgh, Harris was badly damaged as gust ripped out its gable end and tore away windows. Debris was flying about and colliding into other houses in the street said the inspector.
A chimney fell off a house in Carloway, Lewis, and slammed into a lower level roof causing the kitchen ceiling to cave in.
The storm pulled rank on inspector Robbie Macdonald and blew his shed away late on Tuesday night.
He was too busy to pick up the pieces until the morning as he was co-
Western Isles police was immersed in handling incidents of strong winds drove the very high tide flood over roadways and causeways.
Inspector Robbie Macdonald said: “Overnight we had causeways closed for a period. We did run convoys for a while.”
He added: “Experienced officers from the islands were saying it was as wild as they’ve seen for a long while and they had great difficulty in keeping their feet as they were out and about.”