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Emergency food stations were set up by utility firm SSE which also contracted the Hotel Hebrides in Tarbert, Harris, to provide meals for powercut-hit locals. SSE is picking up the tab.

 

The hotel itself was without power so a diesel generator was set up to allow it to open to people.

 

Hotel Hebrides staff stayed hours later than usual to serve food and ensure people had somewhere warm to go.

 

Ann Macdonald of Scalpay said the storms were bad.

 

She said: “The last few days have been quite a frightening experience.

 

“My dogs were petrified. The windows and doors were shaking.

 

“Its been very, very cold. The lack of communication caused difficulties - that’s nobody’s fault and everyone is doing their best to help others in this situation.”

SSE picks up tab for powercut meals

12 January 2015

Above: Lynda Donnan (left) and Ann Macdonald thanked SSE for providing hot food for people affected by powercuts

 

Right: Chef Kate Warhurt, Hotel Hebrides, Harris, was busy cooking for affected islanders and hydro staff

She added: “Its been very, very cold. The lack of communication caused difficulties - that’s nobody’s fault and everyone is doing their best to help others in this situation.”

 

She said she was very grateful to SSE and Hotel Hebrides.

 

Also at the hotel was Lynda Donnan who said: “I am all electric so this is the first hot meal I have had for days.”

 

No street or village in the Western Isles escaped damage as the violent storm left a scene of devastation in its wake.

 

Thousands of homes had slates whipped off in 100mph gusts, often hammering into nearby parked cars.

 

Sheds were blown away, caravans and chalets flipped over, garage roofs torn off and windows smashed in.

 

Gates were snapped off their hinges, glass and metal panels tossed about, and fencing flattened.

 

Despite mobilising extra engineers into the Hebrides as a contingency, utility firm SSE took in even more staff as the number of power cuts escalate.

 

Treacherous weather conditions hampered efforts to repair the electricity network in northern and western Scotland.