Skip to main content

Delegated Services Risk Warning: Weather; Wind

By

 

Amber warning for South West England


Wind

Hello all,


What a way to start 2024! The Met Office has issued an AMBER warning focussing on the winds associated with named storm: HENK. It covers all of our local operational area.

The timescale of the warning is in place, at present, between 10:00 AM on 
Tuesday 2nd January 2024 and 20:00 PM on Tuesday 2nd Jan 2024.

They say:

Storm Henk will bring a spell of very strong winds, causing disruption to travel and utilities.

What to expect
* Longer journey times and cancellations likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected
* Some roads and bridges likely to close
* Probably some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs
* Flying debris is likely and could lead to Injuries or danger to life
* There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage, and
* Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.

Gusts of 70-80 mph are likely on exposed coasts in the west. Inland, gusts of 50-60 mph are more probable, but perhaps briefly 60-70 mph in one or two places. 

Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, if you must drive, you can do this more safely by taking the following actions:

* drive slowly to minimise the impact of wind gusts
* be aware of high sided vehicles/caravans on more exposed roads and be cautious when overtaking, and 
* give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses more room than usual. 

Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees. 

Carefully check for loose items outside and, if possible, safely secure them. Items include mobile play equipment, bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences. 

Be particularly cautious in coastal and high/exposed areas.

Prepare for potential power cuts now. Are your torches ready with spare batteries, or are they wound up to charge them? Have you got mobile phone power packs and other essential items ready?

All the best.

Bill

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Delegated Services Risk Warning; Heat

By
  Thu 19 Jun, 25    Repeated below is the AMBER warning Heat health alert for information and action. Apart from: 1. having robust policy in place on sunscreen/shade/protective clothing and hats/ventilation/breaks and hydration, and 2. thinking carefully about those with medical conditions  we are advising sports days need to be held early morning in such conditions, or postponed. Heat health alert updated for the South West The amber heat health alert is in effect from 12PM on 19/06/2025 until 9AM on 23/06/2025 across the South West . The amber alert has a matrix score of 12. This means: Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including: a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups likely increased demand on all health and social care services internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exce...
Post a Comment
Read more

DS Risk Warning: Health - Cornavirus/Covid 19

By
Priority Wed, 26 Feb, 20 Hello all, Looking at how things are progressing and supporting you with your many enquiries can we suggest, if you haven't done so already, a communication to your community and staff? The content would be to reassure that you are following the national and local advice. You could then copy and paste the advice from yesterday that includes the list of Category 1 and Category 2 locations and the list of Italian lock down villages. If you can you can go on to say nobody has returned from lock down areas anywhere in the world. Some have returned from areas where the advice is clear on being vigilant in case symptoms appear. If that were to be the case they will then follow the self isolate advice, etc. it would be sensible to recognise that the situation is very dynamic and could already be changing as you send your communication. You will update them on your position if anything material changes, but they can also keep up to date ...
Post a Comment
Read more

DS Risk Warning: Weather: AMBER heat health alert updated for the South West

By
Hello all, The above Agency has just increased the warning to Amber. The details are below. We have had a number of calls on sports days. It is one of those 'no wins' like snow. Some have been able to move things to first thing, otherwise they've been sensibly postponed or even cancelled. There's some enquiries too on DofE expeditions, which in the circumstances will need careful review and potential postponing. If you have any other queries, do get in touch and we'll do our best to advise. DS Heat health alert updated for the South West The amber heat health alert is in effect from 12PM on 11/07/2025 until 9AM on 14/07/2025 across the South West. The amber alert has a matrix score of 12. This means: Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including: a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups likely inc...
Post a Comment
Read more