In his latest video update, our Chief Executive Craig Hatton has praised colleagues across our services for their ‘Herculean’ effort to support residents during Storm Eowyn.
Council teams were involved in everything from removing fallen trees and getting blocked roads open to ensuring vulnerable people were looked after and inspecting buildings.
Throughout the storm – which peaked on Friday afternoon and brought winds of around 100mph – North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) maintained essential services.
Care at Home staff continued to deliver care services to people in their own homes, working across our communities on a business-as-usual basis.
Teams were also making additional checks on those most vulnerable, sharing information with power companies on residents impacted by power outages and monitoring community alarms, with additional welfare calls and visits being carried out.
In treacherous conditions, the council’s Streetscene staff removed hundreds of fallen trees from roads over the weekend and are still clearing footpaths and other areas.
“Many areas of North Ayrshire have been without power for very long periods and fallen trees blocking roads, flooding and damage to properties are just a few of the things that our teams have had to deal with. It has been a truly Herculean effort from our teams, who have continued to provide support to our most vulnerable residents. Thank you everyone for their selfless work.”Craig Hatton, Chief Executive


Protective Services inspected damaged buildings, including schools and offices, and continue to do so while school janitors played their part over the weekend alongside surveyors and the Building Standards team.
The Building Services team were also out undertaking emergency repairs to Council homes across the weekend.
Two schools – Elderbank Primary School in Irvine and Brodick Nursery – are closed today (Mon 27 January) and work is ongoing to ensure these reopen as soon as possible.
The Isle of Cumbrae was completely without power and on Saturday emergency food provisions, flasks, power banks and a generator were provided to the local island resilience group and additional carers travelled to the Island to offer support over the weekend.
And staff in the Customer Service Centre dealt with a very high volume of calls over the weekend as they logged jobs to ensure residents got the help they needed.
Craig shared: “The storm certainly brought its challenges when it swept into Ayrshire on Friday. Many areas of North Ayrshire have been without power for very long periods and fallen trees blocking roads, flooding and damage to properties are just a few of the things that our teams have had to deal with.
“It has been a truly Herculean effort from our teams, who have continued to provide support to our most vulnerable residents.
“They have delivered Care At Home and wider social care services and our contact centre and emergency resilience teams handled a high volume of calls and enquiries from residents whose homes sustained damage, providing help and reassurance.
“Property, Building Standards and Building Services teams have been inspecting buildings and undertaking repairs to ensure buildings and homes are safe and can be occupied.
“Our Roads and Streetscene teams have been out clearing roads, fallen trees and storm debris – and issuing sandbags where required. These are just a few of the Council teams that were involved, and I want to thank everyone for their selfless work.”
Provost Anthea Dickson added: “This storm caused some very dangerous conditions, and I would like to thank everyone in our communities who played their part by checking in on each other and taking the time to ensure the most vulnerable people in their neighbourhoods were looked after.
“I would also like to thank local resilience groups for ensuring people had food and water, and the businesses who showed real compassion by opening their doors – when it was safe to do so – to welcome people and offer shelter.”