Town escapes - but rural areas take full force of blizzards

Hundreds of homes in outlying areas including Moorfields and Aughafatten were left without power for up to three days and NIE confirmed yesterday (Monday) that an estimated 100 homes at Broughshane were still without electricity.

An NIE spokesperson said those who remained off the grid were in mainly rural and exposed areas where access has been hampered by difficult ground conditions.

The blizzard conditions with severe snow and winds which battered Northern Ireland since Thursday evening affected power supplies to more than 140,000 homes and businesses.

NIE said all of its resources, including 140 extra line staff from the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, have been deployed, and helicopters have been used to patrol remote areas and deliver emergency crews and resources to those areas.

In some parts, heavy snow drifts left driving difficult and many motorists were forced to abandon their cars in the road.

In one incident, a Carnalbanagh resident who was driving home from a night shift on Friday morning was stranded in his car for some 10 hours after his vehicle got stuck in a snow drift not far from his home.

A neighbour rang Ballymena Councillor Martin Clarke in his attempts to get assistance for the man who was eventually freed with the help of Portglenone Community Rescue Service.

A posting on their Facebook page confirmed: “We responded with 4x4 units from across the province, with the help of local farmers and the PSNI Search & Rescue team we were able to bring the incident to a successful conclusion”.

The Councillor praised everyone involved in the rescue not least the Rescue Service volunteers and also the Council’s Emergency Coordination Officer, Clive Kyle.

Glenravel was also very badly affected by the blizzard conditions and Councillor for the area, Paul Maguire, said local residents had likened the disruption to that of 1963.

He said: “Homes, schools and businesses were without electricity for up to 24hrs, many without heat or hot water, unable to warm food and milk for babies and young children.

“Farmers were also experiencing difficulties with lambing, unable to access or even find ewes and young born lambs.

“Whilst the operatives on the ground cannot be faulted for their efforts to clear roads in the most difficult of circumstances, questions must be asked of the DRD Minister, Danny Kennedy, as to why, in the 21st Century, a planned strategy cannot be put in place to cope with such a crisis. Daithí McKay MLA and myself plan on meeting the Minister to put those questions to him,” said the Councillor.

A call for emergency services to lend their support to stranded farmers, some of whom lost herds of animals in the devastating weather conditions, has been issued by local MLA Robin Swann.

The UUP Assemblyman has called on Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill to ask for the PSNI helicopter to assist stranded farmers and also to help them get feed to their livestock.

He spoke out after one farmer lost 26 animals when a shed collapsed because of the heavy snow.

In his written request to the minister, Mr Swann said: “For many farmers, their future

livelihood is at stake and one farmer has already lost 26 animals after a shed collapsed due to snow.”

Ballymena Councillor and DUP Agriculture spokesman Paul Frew suggested calling on the Territorial Army to assist,

Speaking yesterday, he said: “All weekend we have been working with DRD and local farmers to get roads cleared and enable our rural dwellers to get back to normal but unfortunately many rural roads are still blocked. Many of these roads have walls of snow reaching more than 10 feet. Whether it heavy plant or snow blowers many of these roads will take time to clear.

“The Territorial Army are in place for emergencies such as this and the engineering teams will have heavy plant which could help clear routes. Whilst DRD staff have been working hard, it would be sensible to supplement their efforts with the TA personnel to speed the process along. Many farmers are facing significant loss of livestock because of the conditions.”

And, it seems there will be no immediate thaw in conditions.

While the heavy snow fall has subsided, forecasters say temperatures will remain bitterly cold at the start of this week.