Advice has been issued for Devon residents cut off from gas supplies during a significant spell of cold weather.
Households in the Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Malborough parts of the South Hams have been affected by the outage, which happened when works by a third party ruptured a pipe yesterday afternoon.
Wales & West Utilities engineers worked into the night on what it has described as a ‘very challenging’ repair.
Supplies to homes, businesses and schools may be affected over several days which are forecast to be extremely cold. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice for the area for today (Sunday, 4 January), tomorrow and Tuesday, warning that travel may be disrupted.
All properties affected must be visited twice before supplies are restored, once to turn off the supply at the household and once to turn it back on when the main has been repaired. Wales & West is appealing for residents to remain in their homes to assist with this process, and for registered Gas Safe engineers who may be able to assist with the operation to contact the company. Residents are asked not to attempt to turn off their own gas supplies. If they have done so already they are asked to call Wales & West on 0800 912 2999.
Last night the company started distributing warm packs, which include blankets, hot water bottles and electric heaters, to customers on its Priority Services Register, and is asking residents of the area to check on neighbours who could be vulnerable.
Devon County Council’s social care teams are working with Wales & West, South Hams District Council colleagues and town and parish councils to ensure that vulnerable residents who are not on the priority list are also warm and safe.
Advice on keeping warm safely without mains gas:
- Do not light a fire indoors unless you have a proper heating appliance for this purpose or a fireplace with a working chimney.
- Do not use camping stoves and barbecues indoors as there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can kill.
- Do not use petrol or diesel generators or other similar fuel driven equipment indoors as the exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide.
- Be very careful when using heating appliances that are not mains powered. If you have a portable gas heater that uses gas bottles and is approved for indoor use, make sure the room is well ventilated and follow all instructions carefully as the fumes can be dangerous.
- You are advised to wear several thin layers of clothing and wrap up warm. While you are sitting, keep your feet raised because air near the floor is colder.
- Get up and move around and stretch at least every hour. Get everyone in the house to gather in one room to share warmth.
- Put something like a towel or sheet under the doors of the rooms you are using to reduce draughts. Close your curtains and blinds when it gets dark to help keep the heat in. Use blankets or sheets to cover your windows if you don’t have curtains or blinds. Close the windows and doors in rooms you are not using.
- Becoming very cold can have serious effects on your health. Look out for the signs of hypothermia in people in your home. You are looking for shivering, cold and dry skin, skin and lips that are blue or grey (which may easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet of black or brown skin), slurred speech, slow breathing and appearing tired or confused.
- If you are concerned for someone’s health please contact NHS Direct on 111 for non-emergency advice or 999 in an emergency.
South Hams District Council continues to work with local partners and Wales & West. It is also coordinating efforts with the two town councils. District council officers will be in the affected areas to signpost residents to any support they may require.
Devon County Council is contacting care homes and schools in the area and reviewing gritting procedures to ensure key routes remain open to gas engineers and support workers.
There are five schools which are due to reopen after the Christmas break tomorrow or on Tuesday and which may be affected by the outage; Kingsbridge Primary School; Kingsbridge Community College, West Alvington Primary School, Malborough Primary School, and Salcombe Primary School.
Restoring gas supplies to schools and vulnerable residents will be a priority. Parents and carers of children due to attend the above schools are asked to monitor regular schools communication channels. School closures will be notified via the county council’s schools website.
Wales & West says engineers will have ID badges with them and will be happy for residents to verify their identification by calling its ID verification line on 0800 316 0478.
If at any point anyone smells gas, they are asked to call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999.
Further updates from Wales & West will be available on the company’s website.
Further updates and advice from Devon County Council will be issued on the council’s website.