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Five day power cut is family's apocalypse, says mum

Hannah Howell Mother Hannah Howell (right) has brown hair and blue eyes and looks into the camera. While her 7-month-old baby with blue eyes and brown hair strapped to her chest smiles into the camera. Hannah Howell
A mum of three who remains without power five days after Storm Darragh describes the experience as their "own apocalypse"

A mother of three says her family have been through their "own version of the apocalypse" after being left without power for five days.

Hannah Howell, 35, from Llanfyrnach, in Pembrokeshire, has had to relocate to an Airbnb in Narbeth nearly 15 miles (24.1km) away, after her house lost power because of Storm Darragh.

Ms Howell described the experience as harrowing, as she recalled her 8-year-old daughter's hands being purple from the cold, while her seven-month-old daughter, Phoenix, has been recovering from croup.

The family are among nearly 3,500 homes across Wales still without power, National Grid said its engineers were continuing to work hard to reconnect everyone affected.

"We've had nothing, we've been abandoned out in the cold and dark, and other people are carrying on elsewhere like everything is fine. It's been our own version of the apocalypse," Ms Howell said.

She said they were first told their electric would return by 22:00 GMT on 9 December, but now they have been told it will be 12 December at 22:00, but she has little hope of it returning by then.

"It's been harrowing really, my eight-year-old's hands were purple and blue, we were trying so hard to get them pink again," she said.

Speaking of her seven-month-old's croup infection, Ms Howell said a warm night in the AirBnB had helped, but the situation has been difficult.

"I've got rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease so it's been tough, and we've felt really alone, we've had no mobile signal," she added.

The 35-year-old said there needs to be a contingency plan in place, as she worries these storms will become more common because of climate change.

"We're out of pocket massively, paying for the Airbnb, and having to throw out £90 worth of frozen food, including stuff for Christmas," said Ms Howell.

Hannah Howell A paper letter to Santa from 8-year-old Maia Howell, it reads: "Dear Santa, have an amazing day. I am trying my best but there's a present that's most important which is my family not having to be stressed. Please make it come true. From Maia."Hannah Howell
A letter to Santa from eight-year-old Maia, which says the most important present for Christmas is for her family not having to be stressed

Many businesses are still dealing with the aftermath too, Andrew Roberts, manager of The Plough Hotel and Restaurant in Rhosmaen, Llandeilo, estimates the businesses' total loss of turnover to be £35,000 since 7 December.

Mr Roberts said he was currently 1,400 covers down and described the situation as "quite traumatic" as the large figure comes at a time when they are typically busy.

National Grid told Mr Roberts the power would be back up on Thursday, but after cancelling all bookings up until then, the power actually came back late on Tuesday evening.

Mr Roberts stands outside the Plough Hotel and Restaurant in Rhosmaen, Llandeilo. He is wearing an orange jumper over a white shirt.
Hotel and restaurant manager, Andrew Roberts, says he has lost £35,000 pounds in turnover since Saturday

Many people in Pen-y-Bryn, near Cardigan, also remain without power.

91-year-old Annie James, lives alone in the coastal town and compared the aftermath of Storm Darragh to World War Two.

She said: "It reminds me of the war, we had no lights and blackouts back then. It makes me feel sad to think of that time.

"I've been sitting down, looking at the walls."

Ms James said she was isolated and unable to communicate as a result of no electricity.

"Everything is modern these days, and when something like this happens, you don't have anything.

"I hope it will come back tomorrow or I don't know what I will do," she added.

91-year-old Annie James stands in her doorway. She has silver short hair and wears large glasses with a reddish-brown rim. She wears a lilac purple turtleneck, with a dark purple cardigan over the top.
Annie James, 91, remains without power and compares the aftermath of Storm Darragh to World War Two

Ronnie, 77, and Barbara Foster, 71, also from Pen-y-Bryn, count themselves lucky that they have got a wood burner.

"It's cold getting up in the morning and when you need water, we have to boil it in a saucepan. Luckily, we've got a hob.

"There are people here older than us that haven't got any of those things to us," said Ms Foster.

"Bathing has been impossible, it's literally been the old style doing it in a bowl in the bath and wash ourselves down. I don't think people realise how difficult it has been," she added.

Like many, they have also lost the food in their freezer, Ms Foster said they had already bought their turkey crown for Christmas and it's all gone.

"It's just hopeless," she said.

Calculating the cost, Ms Foster said "The fridge and the freezer are coming up to a couple of hundred pounds lost."

77-year-old Ronnie (right) and 71-year-old Barbara (left) sit in their home on the sofa. Barbara has a grey bob and full fringe and wears glasses and a zip up grey jacket, she looks blankly into the camera. Ronnie is bald and also has glasses on, he wears a navy quilted gilet and smiles into the camera.
Ronnie and Barbara Foster remain without power and say people don't realise just how hard it is been

John Davies, county councillor for Cilgerran and Eglwyswrw said lessons needed to be learnt from Storm Darragh as people had lost confidence in National Grid "by virtue of these extended deadlines".

National Grid said their teams were "working around the clock" to reconnect power supplies and support their customers.

In a statement, it added: "Where customers are waiting to be reconnected, it has either been too dangerous for our teams to carry out work, or there have been other obstacles, such as flooding, limiting our access to power lines."

National Grid and SP Manweb both confirmed they were helping to pay for hotels and food for their most vulnerable customers.