Hundreds of homes in the North East remain without power as cleanup efforts continue following Storm Boelo, which brought strong winds and heavy rain to the region over the weekend. Gusts of up to 65mph were recorded in some coastal and exposed areas of the North of England.
Storm Impact and Response
Several events were cancelled and attractions closed due to the storm and public safety concerns. Rail services were also disrupted across the network, with Network Rail working throughout Sunday evening to limit the impact for passengers on Monday.
Northern Powergrid reported that over 127,000 households experienced power supply issues during the storm. Challenging weather conditions made repairs difficult, but by 6.30pm on Sunday, teams had restored power to nearly 102,000 customers.
Ongoing Outages and Welfare Support
At 11am on Monday, hundreds of homes between Northumberland and County Durham were still without power. Northern Powergrid's live power cut map showed that St John's Chapel in Weardale and the surrounding area were among the worst affected, with over 200 customers left without electricity.
In December 2021, a major incident was declared in St John's Chapel after Storm Arwen left residents without electricity, water, and phone signal for a week, with army personnel deployed to support them. At the time, residents said they felt neglected and angry that it had taken so long for a major incident to be declared.
Northern Powergrid said it will provide updates on welfare provision as work to restore power continues. Customers who need help should call 0800 169 2996. In dangerous situations, risk to life, or if medically dependent on electricity, call 105. For medical emergencies, call 999 immediately.
