Batten down the hatches ahead of Ophelia’s UK arrival

On 30^th anniversary of the 1987 Great Storm, windy weather forecast for the west of the UK – protect your home and business now …

Aviva is advising homeowners and businesses to take basic precautions to protect themselves and their property ahead of heavy downpours and very strong winds from ex-tropical storm Ophelia, which are forecast to hit the west coast of the UK early next week.

The tail-end of the US tropical storm is due to coincide with the 30^th anniversary of the Great Storm of 15/16 October 1987, which caused winds of over 100mph, significant damage across the UK and killed 18 people.

Although we know from history that precise forecasting can be difficult, Aviva has its network of contractors and property claims experts on stand by across the country and its contact centres are available 24/7 to help those who might be affected by the forecast unsettled weather.

Rob Townend, claims director for Aviva said: “While it’s unclear yet how severe the storm will be, high winds and heavy rain could cause havoc to homes and businesses. But some simple measures can help to minimise any damage. For example, secure your fences, doors and windows and be aware that you may face disruption to your travel plans.

“Our claims teams are ready and here to help if your property or car has been damaged as a direct result of storm force conditions. We can also arrange alternative accommodation for you if the damage means you need to move out of your home temporarily.”

Customers wishing to make a claim should contact:

For home insurance – call 0345 030 6945 or you can report a claim online on MyAviva at your convenience to get your claim reference
For car insurance: call 0345 030 6925 or report a claim online at MyAviva
For business insurance: contact your broker or for commercial property claims call 0800 015 1498, for commercial motor 0800 246 876 and for motor trade 0800 0466 229.

What to do before the storm

If possible park the car in a garage, or away from large trees
If time allows and it is safe to do so check for loose tiles on the roof, secure any weak fencing etc to minimise the risk of causing damage to other parts of your property.
Safely store or secure any garden furniture, ornaments, bikes or children’s toys/outside play equipment.
Make sure all doors and windows are closed.
In the event of an electrical storm remove the aerial from the TV set

What to do after the storm

Call your insurer immediately if your property suffers damage. Aviva’s team of experts will be able to give you advice on how to prevent further damage and will help you with your claim to get your property back to the way it was.

This video provides some handy tips and advice for protecting homes ahead of storm weather

Severe weather warning: check before you travel

Scotland is braced for a weekend of storms with winds of up to 100mph overnight and tomorrow followed by snow and ice. Looks like we’re going to have a winter after all …

Government Ministers are receiving regular and detailed updates on preparations for the severe weather due to hit Scotland tonight and tomorrow morning, following a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience team this morning.

The Met Office has Amber (be prepared) warnings in place for very strong westerly winds across the north and the central belt.

Parts of Strathclyde, Central, Tayside, Fife and the Lothians will be affected by conditions until around 0800 hours on Friday with gusts of 60-70 mph quite widely expected. The Western Isles, the north and north-west of the mainland and Orkney will see gusts of 80 to 90 mph with a risk of gusts of over 100 mph in places until around midday.

The rest of the country is covered by a Yellow (be alert) warning and winds should quickly ease from the west throughout Friday, before picking on Saturday morning.

Responder authorities in the areas expected to be affected are activating their plans to deal with the potential impacts.

There is expected to be disruption on the transport network and a Multi-Agency Response Team (MART), involving partner organisations, such as Police Scotland, is being activated to monitor conditions and make sure that the public has the latest information.

Utility suppliers are increasing staff resources and putting back-up resources in place to deal with potential disruption to power supplies.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney said: “The weather fronts will bring particularly strong winds across the north-west of Scotland, the islands and across the central belt overnight and when people are making their way to work in the morning.

“The Scottish Government’s Resilience operation is actively monitoring weather developments and receiving updates from the Met Office, SEPA and the utilities companies, as well as keeping in touch with emergency responders and councils at a local level in the areas likely to be affected by adverse weather

“Contingency plans are being made by transport authorities and passengers should expect cancelations and disruption on ferries and the railways. The travel operators websites will have all of the latest information and people should check them before they set-off on their journey.

“On the roads, bridges could be affected by high winds, and driving conditions could be challenging, particularly for high-sided vehicles. Motorists should allow extra time for their journeys and check the Traffic Scotland website before they set-out.

“Utility companies are increasing resources and moving them to places where the storm is likely to damage the electricity network.

“The Scottish Government’s annual campaign, Ready for Winter, is a good reminder of the simple actions we can all take to prepare for adverse conditions. Information is available at www.readyscotland.org”

SEPA Hydrology Duty Manager David Faichney said: “We are currently in the process of preparing flood alerts and warnings for areas where there is a potential for impacts. We remain in contact with our partners through the Flood Forecast Service and will ensure detailed flood forecasts are available to responders.

“As always we would encourage the public to be mindful of the weather forecast and remain vigilant to the risk of flooding in their area by checking the active flood updates on our website at www.sepa.org.uk/flooding or by signing up to Floodline on 0345 988 1188.”

David Dickson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Safety has to be our first consideration during severe weather. We will be withdrawing a limited number of services on exposed routes tomorrow until the worst of the storm has passed to allow our engineers to thoroughly inspect the network for any damage.

“We will be monitoring conditions on the ground closely throughout the night and into the morning and will have teams ready to respond to any issues caused by the storm.

“We are working closely with the train operators, and other industry partners, to reduce disruption as much as possible while also operating a safe network for passengers.”

SEVERE WEATHER ADVICE

Severe weather has the ability to disrupt our daily lives, in all sorts of ways, like the loss of power and property damage. By knowing what to do to prepare, you will reduce the risks.

Weather conditions and warnings

These can change quickly, so it is essential to keep up-to-date with the latest weather forecast and weather warnings from the Met Office.
Know the Met Office warnings.

Travel

Consider the conditions before you set off and think about how severe weather can impact on you. See Ready Scotland’s advice on travelling.
For real-time journey information, listen to radio reports or visit the Traffic Scotland website/ twitter feed.
For public transport information, check the Traveline website/ twitter feed.
If driving, ensure you and your vehicle are adequately prepared for the conditions.

Loss of utilities

You can take straightforward steps to cope with the loss of power and other utilities.

Flooding

Check SEPA’s website for the latest flooding alerts or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188. You can also sign up to SEPA’s free Floodline direct warning service.

Strong winds

Like flooding, severe winds can occur at any time of year. See Ready Scotland’s advice on how to prepare for severe windy weather.

Severe weather can strike at any time so taking action now will serve you well in winter, and all year round.

In the last few years, we’ve seen it all – snow, floods and strong winds. And it doesn’t take much for it to impact on our daily lives. Like getting stuck indoors for a few days, or losing your phone communication, power or water supply.

Severe weather can cause a range of problems – but you can be ready for them. By doing a few small things now, you can save yourself a lot of trouble later on. You can also do your bit to help out in your community.

See below for information and useful tips on how to prepare:

• In your home
• On the move
• In your community
• In your workplace

Scotland braced for severe storms

‘Weather bomb’ expected to cause widespread disruption

Severe gales and exceptionally high waves will hit Scotland today , with western coastal areas particularly affected. The Met Office says western and northern Scotland should be prepared for “dangerous conditions” throughout the day.

Transport services have been cancelled as a rapidly-developing storm – known as a ‘weather bomb’ – threatens wind gusts of up to 80mph. Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne yesterday warned of severe disruption to its services.

Edinburgh has already experienced thunder and lightning today following a night of heavy rain and high winds. Gusts of over 70mph have been reported on the Forth Road Bridge this morning and the bridge is closed to high-sided vehicles.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has more than 25 flood warnings and alerts in place across the country.

Scottish and Southern Energy is on ‘yellow alert‘ which means it anticipates power cuts

Very strong winds are expected to affect northern and central parts of the UK until early on Thursday. A second storm front is predicted to track across the country overnight on Thursday, with a yellow warning for snow in for parts of central and southern Scotland in place for Friday morning.

Police Scotland’s Inspector Bryan McGeogh said this morning: “I would advise people to travel with caution across the country. Very high winds are expected which could impact on the road network, rail travel, ferries and bridges and driving in these conditions could be particularly hazardous.”

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the “exceptionally strong winds and tidal surge” were expected to produce unusually high tides and large waves along the west coast of the country.

The First Minister chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee yesterday and received an update on preparations for the severe weather forecast over the next 24 hours.

An Amber (Be Prepared) warning has been issued for severe gales with gusts around 80 mph expected mainly over the Outer Hebrides and Northern Isles tomorrow. This could lead to disruption to travel, power and some dangerous waves over the causeways. Disruption could also be experienced over the rest of the country, which is covered by a yellow warning for high winds, with ferries, rail services and bridges likely to be affected.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Deputy First Minister John Swinney took part in a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee earlier this evening, and were joined by Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Keith Brown and Transport Minister Derek Mackay, as well as representatives from Transport Scotland, local resilience partnerships, SEPA, Met Office and other key organisations who will provide an update on their preparations.

Transport Scotland is activating the Multi-Agency Response Team (MART) to monitor the conditions. The MART, which involves partner organisations such as Police Scotland and the Met Office, is being co-ordinated at the Traffic Scotland Control Centre in South Queensferry with access to the best technology available to monitor the situation and react accordingly.

More widely, the Scottish Government will closely monitor the effects of the severe weather. The resilience (SGoRR) committee has been in touch with responder organisations in those areas that are expected to be affected to get updates on the multi-agency efforts being made to deal with potential impacts and will continue to stay in regular contact to discuss prevention and response activity.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Having visited Transport Scotland’s National Control Centre earlier today (Tuesday) and attended SGoRR this evening to receive an update on preparations I am confident we are well placed to cope. However, weather events can cause significant disruption and it’s important that the public take heed of the latest travel and safety advice this week.

“Our response to major transport incidents is now better co-ordinated and under one roof with experts working alongside each other. We use state of the art monitoring to prepare for all conditions. Weather stations throughout the trunk road network relay information to our operating companies, on temperature, wind speeds and rainfall.

“Before heading out, I would urge the public to consider the conditions. They should listen to radio reports, visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed and take note of the latest police advice.

“The Scottish Government’s annual campaign, Ready for Winter, is a good reminder of the simple actions we can all take in an hour to prepare for adverse conditions. Information is available at Readyscotland.org.”

Steve Willington, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Very strong winds are likely to affect northern and central parts of the UK from early Wednesday and last through until early Thursday as a very deep low pressure system moves slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland. A period of severe gales is likely over northern and central Britain, as well as the potential for storm force winds over north western coastal areas of Scotland.”

David Dickson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Safety has to be our first consideration during severe weather and we are withdrawing a limited number of services until the worst of the storms have passed. We will be monitoring conditions on the ground closely throughout the night and into the morning and will have teams in place across the country to react quickly to any damage caused by the weather.

“We are working closely with the train operators and other industry partners to do everything we can to reduce disruption, while also operating a safe network for passengers.”

Richard Brown, Head of Hydrology for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “From today, onwards, the risk of coastal flooding is expected to impact on north western coastlines, especially Caithness, Sutherland, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute, however impacts are likely to also affect the Orkney and Shetland Isles and the entire west coast – including Firth of Clyde, Clyde estuary and Dumfries and Galloway. The potential for strong to gale force winds, very large waves and tidal surges could result in localised flooding to roads, coastal pathways, causeways and individual properties from spray and wave overtopping.

“The Scottish Flood Forecasting Service predicts that flooding is expected to continue throughout the week, with Wednesday forecast to experience the largest waves and greatest impacts due to the strength of tidal surges. There is a risk of significant flood impacts from wave overtopping and spray during this time, before large waves begin to lessen on Thursday.

“We would strongly encourage people to remain vigilant and be mindful of the conditions in their locality and when travelling, especially along more exposed coastal areas. Members of the public can access the latest flood updates for their area via our website, and sign up to the Floodline direct warning service by calling 0345 988 1188.”

For flood warning updates go to: http://floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodupdates/

Time to get ready for Winter

‘No complacency’ message after two mild winters

Two consecutive relatively mild winters appear to have made people in Scotland less worried about severe weather incidents, according to new research.

The research, commissioned by the Scottish Government and the British Red Cross, has found that 40 per cent of Scots surveyed said that they were concerned about emergencies caused by treacherous weather conditions, down from almost half of those questioned a year ago.

The survey also found:

• almost nine out of ten car owners believe they are prepared for an emergency, largely because three-quarters carry an ice-scraper and de-icer.

• seven per cent had experienced an extreme weather emergency in the past year, with higher levels in rural areas. Of these, two-fifths claimed they got together with neighbours to help them cope.

Launching this year’s ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign yesterday, Scottish Government Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “If there is anything recent winters have shown us it is that Scottish weather is unpredictable.

“In the last five years, most parts of Scotland have been affected by severe weather ranging from snow and freezing temperatures to high winds and flooding, and we also saw the terrible impact of flooding in south-west England last winter. While extreme weather can happen at any time of year, winter remains the time of greatest risk.

“The unpredictability of weather patterns means we cannot simply hope that we will miss the worst of it. While we can’t stop the weather causing disruption, we can be well prepared to cope with it.

“Our annual winter preparedness campaign reminds us of this and the simple actions we can all take to get ready: in the home, before a journey, at our place of work and in our communities. This will serve us well not just throughout the winter months, but all year round and in a range of emergency situations.

“I’m delighted the campaign is again being run in partnership with the British Red Cross and will be supported by a variety of other partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors in Scotland.”

David Miller, Director of the British Red Cross in Scotland, said: “Making sure you are prepared now for winter can make a huge difference when extreme weather hits.

“At the Red Cross we know that severe weather, including snow and floods, can have serious consequences. However, with a few simple steps you can make yourself and others ready for the disruption it can bring.

“You can prepare an emergency kit for your home and car, jot down your emergency phone numbers and check on any neighbours, family or friends to see if they need any help. You can also make sure you know what the plan at your workplace is.

“Each year the Red Cross helps people across Scotland cope with the effects of severe weather and this winter, as always, we’ll be prepared and ready.”

COSLA President Councillor, David O’Neill added: “COSLA is delighted to once again be working in partnership with the Scottish Government and British Red Cross to launch the ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign. COSLA would urge people to be aware of the simple measures they can take to make sure they are prepared should severe weather affect Scotland.

“COSLA is involved in reaching out to local councils throughout Scotland to ensure they have appropriate contingency plans in place to minimise the impact on public services should Scotland experience any form of severe weather this winter.”

Council unveils winter weather plans

The City of Edinburgh Council has announced plans for how the city will cope with potentially severe weather this winter.

Be Prepared for Winter will also provide up-to-date information to residents through targeted advertising in the print and broadcast media, supported with comprehensive information on the Council’s website plus leaflets and posters.

Salt stocks of 16,000 tonnes have been stockpiled at the Council’s four depots, and the city’s 2,200 salt bins will be refilled on a programmed basis. This amount is more than is required to last an entire winter season.

The city’s roads will be gritted according to which category they fall under: Priority 1 roads are main and essential routes that are pre-treated when frost or snow is forecast and receive priority treatment during snow. Traffic Regulations Orders will be enforced on certain roads this winter to allow better access for gritters, emergency vehicles and buses, where parking has caused obstruction in the past.

Residential roads fall under the Priority 2 category, and will be treated when there is a severe weather event after Priority 1 routes are clear.

High priority pavements will be treated 24 hours a day, seven days a week in times of bad weather. The North Edinburgh Cycle network and the Innocent Railway cycle route have been classed with high priority pavement routes for the second year in a row.

The Council website will be regularly updated throughout the winter and includes gritting routes, salt bins, a video encouraging residents to clear snow and ice, and information about becoming a volunteer snow warden.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Although last winter was milder than the 2009/10 and 2010/11, it is important that we continue to be vigilant in preparing for whatever this winter throws at us. In 2010/11 we experienced some of the worst conditions in almost half a century and our chief priority if this happens again is to keep the city moving.

“Our Be Prepared for Winter campaign will use our website and social and local media to alert residents about plans for the next day, such as gritting, waste collection services and schools. We’ve also got maps on our website showing gritting routes and salt bin locations throughout the winter. There are more than enough stocks of salt and grit, and the fleet of specialist snow clearing vehicles is ready to go.”

The Council’s campaign follows the launch of similar winter campaigns by the

Scottish Government and NHS Scotland.

A winter warning – be prepared!

A major public awareness campaign is being launched today encouraging everyone across the country to think ahead and get ready for all forms of severe weather that we can face in Scotland.

While around 40 per-cent of people in Scotland say they feel prepared for severe weather according to new research published today, people are being asked to look at all aspects of their preparedness through this year’s ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign.

In the last three years parts of Scotland have been badly affected by severe weather – from the damaging storms of early 2012 to the snow and freezing temperatures of the previous two winters which were among the worst in decades.

Launching the campaign, Minister for Transport and Veterans Keith Brown said:

“One of the key drivers behind this year’s campaign is to encourage everyone in Scotland to start thinking about how severe weather could impact them at home, before setting out on journeys, in their communities, and at their place of work.

“Our weather can change quickly and this year we have already seen some people affected by floods and high-winds. We need to keep getting the message out to families, businesses and communities across Scotland about the need to get ready for all kinds of severe weather. Our preparedness campaign shows the simple steps we can all take to achieve this.

“I am delighted that again we are working closely with the British Red Cross to deliver the campaign. We are also working in partnership with Scottish local authorities and a wide range of other partners across the public, voluntary and private sectors.”

David Miller, Red Cross operations director for East Scotland, added: “Severe weather can take many forms – not just snow and ice – and it is important that we are all prepared for it at home, on the road and in the community.

“Last winter was the mildest in years, yet many people in Scotland still suffered hardship and inconvenience due to high winds and flooding which resulted in temporary loss of utilities and caused great damage. We cannot legislate for the weather but we can make life easier for ourselves if we take a few simple steps to prepare for it.

“The Red Cross is delighted to be working in partnership with the Scottish Government once again to deliver this very important message. Our ‘Ready For Winter?’ campaign was very successful last year and this time we are urging the people of Scotland to be ready for all types of severe weather, which can strike at any time of the year – not just during winter.”

COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Well-being, Cllr Peter Johnston said: “COSLA are delighted to once again be working in partnership with the Scottish Government and British Red Cross to launch the ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign. COSLA would urge people to be aware of the simple measures to reduce the risk of being underprepared should severe weather affect Scotland.

“We have seen the consequences of unpredictable weather in Scotland in the past few years and whilst we might not experience sustained winter conditions of snow, we could get high winds, flooding or snow over a short period of time which could have an equally severe impact.

“COSLA support the message of the campaign for people to be generally prepared for all types of severe weather. I am aware councils have appropriate contingency plans in place to minimise the impact on public services should Scotland experience any form of severe weather this winter. We endeavour to deliver as many services as possible during periods of severe weather with limited disruption but we ask people to recognise that in some circumstances we might need to prioritise the vulnerable.”

The Scottish Government’s ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign, its second in partnership with the British Red Cross, provides information and advice on how to prepare and cope with severe weather including snow, ice, flooding and high-winds. It seeks to:

Remind individuals and families of the risks and consequences of being underprepared for the impact of severe weather
Offer information and advice on the simple steps that people, businesses and communities can take to reduce those risks
Highlight the range of information, support and resources available across all sectors and all regions of Scotland
Encourage as many people as possible to be ready for all kinds of severe weather this winter and beyond

The campaign includes a range of online resources and will feature integrated marketing activity across TV, local press, radio, news websites and social media, and is due to run until mid-November. A national roadshow will also take to the streets, visiting all local authority areas across the country, offering practical information and guidance on preparing for all kinds of severe weather.

A variety of organisations is supporting the campaign this year including: COSLA, Scottish Water, ACPOS, The Energy Saving Trust, Met Office, The Salvation Army, Coke, Hilton, Standard Life, Baxter’s Food Group and Kwik-fit. Arnold Clark, Scotrail, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, the British Federation of Small Businesses, main airports across Scotland and 545 libraries are also partnering with the campaign, along with many of Scotland’s largest employers.