Emergency care was offered in Highland Perthshire after some people were left without power for a second day.
Despite the best efforts of squads of Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) engineers to restore the supply after Thursday’s storms, scores of customers around Aberfeldy and Crianlarich had to wait until later in the day before they could again heat their homes. The nature and complexity of the damage to the network was blamed for the delay.
To ensure vulnerable people did not come to harm, Aberfeldy Town Hall was opened as a drop-in centre where people could rest and enjoy a hot meal or drink.
SHEPD staff worked closely with community and resilience groups in rural areas and welfare vans were deployed to provide hot food and drinks, hot water and charge mobile phones in Crianlarich and St Fillans.
Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller said the response was a tribute to all involved.
“This just demonstrates how forward planning, in partnership with the people who live in the area, really pays off,” he said.
“Tree clearance teams worked through the night to clear almost 300 trees so that the majority of roads were passable for people travelling to work and school this morning.
“Thanks also go to Forestry Commission staff and estate factors who helped with this.
“It is a tribute to everyone involved that just 24 hours on from the worst of yesterday’s storm winds the majority of roads and services were back to normal.
“Across Perth and Kinross, 79 schools were kept open, and the few which had to close due to power cuts are back up and running today.
“Care workers responded to the travel difficulties by working flexibly from different locations to make sure everyone who needed care received it.
“Checks were also made on vulnerable residents to make sure they were OK.
“This included work to clear a tree from a single track road to reach a man in his nineties who lives in an isolated house which could only be accessed by that road.
“On behalf of the council I would like to thank all communities, groups and individuals who pulled together to help out.
“The driver at the centre of one of the most dramatic incidents when his lorry toppled over on Friarton Bridge early on Thursday was recovering yesterday but was “badly shaken”.
The lorry’s trailer dangled precariously over the edge of the bridge and the man, who is in his fifties, was taken to the accident and emergency department of Perth Royal Infirmary.
The bridge was then closed which led to near gridlock on most of Perth’s arterial routes.
A colleague at Pegasus Express, who wished to remain anonymous, said workers were relieved the driver escaped without serious injury.