Preparations underway as storms expected

Work is underway to prepare for two storms forecast to hit the region this week.

Darlington Borough Council, emergency services and other organisations are working together to prepare for the potential impact of storms Dudley and Eunice.

The Met Office has issued an Amber warning for North East England, with Storm Dudley expected to bring strong and disruptive winds from today (Wednesday 16 February). This is followed by a yellow warning for wind on Friday, when Storm Eunice is expected to bring further disruption.

The council is working as part of a multi-agency response to the two storms as part of County Durham and Darlington Local Resilience Forum.

A council spokesman said: “While no one can predict with any certainty how badly these storms will affect us, we would like to reassure residents that we are working hard to prepare for any issues that may arise.

“We would advise people to take extra care if they need to travel over the next few days, and consider taking precautions in advance, such as securing outdoor items, such as bins, to reduce the risk of damage to property.

“We will be monitoring the situation closely over the next few days and ensuring appropriate support is in place for anyone who needs it.”

If the weather results in any loss of power to property, this can be reported at www.northernpowergrid.com – a map showing the latest information on current power cuts can be found at www.northernpowergrid.com/power-cuts

Storm updates – including any service changes or road closures – will be posted on the council’s social media channels as necessary, and will also be available at www.darlington.gov.uk