Wednesday 1 November 2023
 Widespread disruption is likely across Devon this evening and tomorrow as severe weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued by the Met Office ahead of Storm Ciarán.
Heavy rain and damaging gusts of wind could lead to flooding, flying debris, power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings.
In this special edition of our Connect Me newsletter you can find advice about:
- travel
- flooding
- power cuts
- school closures
- service disruption
- how to stay up to date
Please do what you can to minimise the risk to yourself and others during Storm Ciarán by reading the Met Office advice about staying safe in a storm.
Prepare
Plan for the severe weather and how it could affect your home and garden – secure garden furniture and trampolines if you need to. Check your home for anything outside that could cause damage in the wind (such as loose guttering or fences).
Safely charge your phone and laptop and check you have batteries for torches in case you have a power cut. Try not to use candles as they are a fire risk. Follow electrical safety advice from Devon Somerset Fire and Rescue.
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Travel advice
Conditions could become unsafe over the next 48 hours, so please use your judgement about whether it’s sensible to venture out or to delay your journey. If you do travel, please take the utmost care - slow down, allow extra time and drive according to the conditions.
Roads, bridges and railway lines may close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights, so the advice is to stay tuned to travel updates.
Keep an eye on the Met Office’s latest updates and also following Devon Alert on Facebook and X.
With trees still in full leaf, and the ground already saturated, there’s high chance that the high winds and heavy rain will bring down a lot of debris on to the roads and making the risk of surface flooding in some areas more likely.
Remember, never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don’t know how deep it is. Vehicles can become stuck and even swept away in just 30cm of flowing water. If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and find safety on higher ground.
Don’t attempt to walk through flooded areas as even shallow moving water can sweep you off your feet. Flood water can also hide dangers like open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels that can cause serious injuries or even death.
The high winds may result in the temporary closure of Taw Bridge, Barnstaple. Other bridges may also be affected. Wind speeds are being constantly monitored, so please check before you travel. If you must travel during a bridge closure please plan your journey, find a safer alternative route, and leave extra time.
We have additional staff working and monitoring the highway from our Control Centre in Exeter, and additional resources are on standby, including tree surgeons and gully suckers/jetters, to keep drains and gullies as clear as possible.
We are also working with partners to ensure that the highway is as prepared as possible for the storm, including encouraging our contractors to secure locations, such as roadworks and scaffolding.
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 Flooding
The Environment Agency has issued a number of flood alerts across parts of Devon.
Stormy seas, large waves and high tides means there may be flooding along our coastline, so stay away from seafronts and coast paths.
Respect road closure signs, whether you’re driving or walking. Remember, never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don’t know how deep it is. Vehicles can become stuck and even swept away in just 30cm of flowing water. If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and find safety on higher ground.
Don’t attempt to walk through flooded areas as even shallow moving water can sweep you off your feet. Flood water can also hide dangers like open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels that can cause serious injuries or even death.
In the event of flooding, you can speak to a trained operator 24 hours a day seven days a week via Floodline on 0345 988 1188. They can offer you immediate advice on flood risk, and what to do before, during and after a flood.
 Power cuts
Energy providers are asking customers to prepare, care and share. You can prepare by:
- charging devices you might need such as torches, phones and laptops
- keeping warm clothes and blankets nearby along with food that doesn't require heating
- turning off appliances that may be a fire risk if they switch on when the power comes back on, such as hair dryers or electric hobs
- securing garden furniture, trampolines and plant pots and checking your home for anything outside that could cause damage in the wind, such as loose guttering or fences
Don't put yourself at risk during a power cut. If you must use candles, follow candle safety advice. If you're using a portable heater, keep it at least one metre from people or furniture and do not cover with anything. Don't try and cook using barbecues or using fires (such as wood-burners) inside your home.
Care by checking in with people who might need extra help and share this information so that friends and family know what to do too.
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Energy networks in the UK are resilient and built to withstand strong winds and heavy rain, however extreme weather can still have an impact.
Visit PowerCut105.com for the latest updates and advice. If you see damaged power lines or lines brought down, stay well clear and call 105 for free to report it, or 999 if there’s an immediate danger to life.
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 School closures
Some schools may choose not to open tomorrow, and we are supporting any school that decides it needs to close to keep pupils and staff safe. A list of school closures can be found on our website, so please check if your school is open before you set off in the morning.
Our school transport service will continue to operating if it is safe to do so, but please visit our school transport route closure website to check if routes have been closed due to safety concerns.
If students use public transport to get to school or college we recommend that they check with the operator to find out if services will be disrupted.
Other service disruption
All of Devon’s recycling centres will be closed tomorrow as it is not safe for them to operate during extremely strong winds due to the risk from flying debris.
Libraries Unlimited has announced that their mobile libraries will be off the road tomorrow. Please check with your local library for any further updates or disturbances to services.
National Rail has advised passengers to allow extra time for their journeys and visit their website for information about for train service alterations.
 Stay up to date
We will keep you up to date with the latest information during Storm Ciarán through our social media channels:
Here are some other useful links:
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