Huddled round the log burner with candles aplenty, this is how one Tivyside reader survived a five-day power cut in the aftermath of one of the worse storms to hit the country for decades.
Fred Luckman, who lives just above Poppit Sands was one of the many residents left without power for days after Storm Darragh laid waste to many areas of the UK.
Fred, who runs carpentry workshops, was left without electricity from the early hours of Saturday morning until Thursday.
Fred grew up in the Ceriog valley in north Wales at a time when there were frequent short power cuts.
“A power cut doesn’t throw me,” he said.
However, he did say that the lack of mobile phone connectivity caused by the power cuts was a big issue, it meant that he couldn’t contact customers about the workshops and made it difficult to stay in touch with other people.
Fred was concerned about how people who were more vulnerable and less prepared fared in the circumstances. He was unable to offer any help, having just recovered from a three-week illness.
“I have worried about older and vulnerable folk,” he said. “I feel services should have checked on all folk without power and discerned who were in need of help proactively by visiting them.”
Fred was offered other places to go but decided that he would rather be in his own home. As well as the log burner and candles he had gas camping lamps and started cooking the defrosting food out of his freezer in the middle of the night.
“I did deal with it well and cope with it well,” he said. “However, locally somebody needs to visit people on the priority service register to make sure that they are okay and drop off gas lamps or a small generator.”
“It’s not a fun thing to be doing, cutting trees down in the dark,” he said He added that he will be able to rebook customers onto other of his popular workshops.
“This was a freak storm, nature at its worst which overwhelmed the National Grid engineers,” he added.
National Grid said that as of 8am today, Friday, 109 customers remain without power in south Wales. Teams are working around the clock to get them restored as soon as possible.
Generators and battery packs are being supplied to vulnerable customers, hot food and drinks delivered to the most impacted areas, and warm hubs have been opened in partnership with Local Authorities. The Red Cross is assisting grid staff in carrying out welfare checks for those without power.
Customers are able to access support and further updates via National Grid’s social media channels, website and by calling 105 at any time.
South Wales customers without electricity can access free hot food and drinks via welfare vans at the following locations: Tregaron Livestock Market, New Mart Office, Station Road SY25 6HX Covid Vaccination Centre, Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn, SA38 9PE Bwlchygroes Hall, SA35 0DP Abercych Hall SA37 0HP (from 4pm) If you are experiencing a new power cut, you can report it online or call 105.
