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Where can I get help during the power cuts?

Eimear Flanagan
BBC News NI
Getty Images An elderly man with grey hair and glasses in his home. He is wearing four layers of clothing and fingerless gloves. He is holding a mug and using a blanket over his knees. Getty Images
NIE warned on Friday it could take up to 10 days to reconnect power to all homes

Thousands of people in Northern Ireland are spending their fifth day in a row without electricity or heating as a result of Storm Éowyn.

Concern is rising for vulnerable householders who are sitting in cold homes in the depths of winter, with little or no access to hot food or drinks.

All of Northern Ireland's 11 councils have opened community assistance centres in which affected customers can take shelter from the cold for a few hours.

Many of these support hubs are based in council leisure centres, meaning people can also get a hot shower and charge their mobile phones during their visit.

Where is my nearest community assistance centre?

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has published a full list of the available centres in each council area:

Ards and North Down Council said 110 people made use of its support services on Saturday and Sunday in various locations throughout the borough.

But not everyone in rural areas has access to transport to take them to their nearest leisure centre or community hall.

It is also the case that these facilities are only open during daytime hours, so affected customers still face going back home to try to sleep in cold conditions.

The charity Age NI has been fielding calls from elderly people and their relatives, worried about how they will get through the next few days without heat or power.

Its chief executive Linda Robinson told BBC News NI their call handlers are able to provide advice and signpost them to practical support thanks to the help of a network of volunteers.

This support can include delivering extra blankets, clothing or hot meals to people who have difficulty leaving their home.

"If they are in areas where we have local age networks, we're certainly giving them contact numbers, or we can contact those [volunteers] for them," she said.

She explained that many of the volunteers are drawn from community groups or church organisations, and Age NI has received several calls offering assistance.

"I think that's our community spirit coming out again that we knew so well during Covid, where people are listening to news reports and are wanting to help."

Should people be offered free hotel accommodation?

Age NI chief executive Linda Robinson on a Zoom call. She has short, brown hair, glasses and is wearing a dark Age NI branded fleece over a patterned blouse.
Age NI chief executive Linda Robinson said free hotel rooms should be an option

Ms Robinson also acknowledged support can be "patchy" in very rural areas and that not everyone who needs help will be on the radar of Age NI or social services.

She suggests the provision of hotel accommodation, funded from the public purse, is one emergency measure that should be considered for the most vulnerable.

"When you get extreme circumstances like what we've all experienced since Friday, I think you have to look outside the box", she said.

"If we are aware of people who are most in need in terms of keeping themselves safe and well and warm and healthy - what are their options?"

She suggested government officials should be contacting hotel firms with spare capacity and offering to pay for rooms so the most in need "can have a warm room, meals, breakfasts, dinners shower facilities - the things we all take for granted".

"We believe that heat and power will be back on by the end of the week, and if that's the case it's not a terribly long time for people to step in and say this is something that we can do and make it happen," Ms Robinson added.

The Age NI chief also suggested the government should reinstate the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners as it will take a lot of energy and a lot of expense to warm homes that have been without power for several days.

Where can I get clean drinking water?

Getty Images A young holds an empty glass under a tap in a kitchen. She has dark hair tied back and is wearing a bright purple hooded top Getty Images

Thousands of homes lost their water supply as a result of the storm and as of 16:05 GMT on Monday there were still about 1,000 customers with no water.

Northern Ireland Water said the problems were either due to a loss of electrical power or damage to equipment and it is working around the clock on repairs.

The company is also working in partnership with councils to distribute of bottled water from the following locations:

  • Omagh Leisure Centre – Old Mountfield Road, Omagh
  • Enniskillen Lakeland Forum - Broadmeadow, Enniskillen
  • Dungiven Sports Centre – 32 Curragh Road, Dungiven
  • Derg Valley Leisure Centre – 6 Strabane Road, Castlederg
  • Belleek Community Centre – Marina Road, Belleek
  • Milestone Centre, Termon Road, Carrickmore
  • Edfield Way car park, Fivemiletown

If you cannot travel to these sites, NI Water says householders can call its Waterline number for direct assistance on 03457 44 00 88.

How can I work from home with no power?

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It has been a stressful few days for small business owners who usually run their operations from their own homes.

Some local councils are offering office space to members of the public where they can use council wifi services.

The slots are available from 09:00 to 17:00 and have to be booked in advance.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council has set up "work from home hubs" at its council offices in Downpatrick, County Down, and in Newry Leisure Centre.

Lisburn and Castlerreagh Council is also operating a booking system for its work from home hubs which are located at:

  • Arts Centre, Lagan Valley Island
  • Bridge Community Centre
  • Moneyreagh Community Centre