It's just over a week since Northern Ireland was battered by Storm Éowyn. The major weather event led to hundreds of thousands of customers being left without electricity.
Since then, efforts have been underway to repair damaged power lines as thousands of homes across Northern Ireland are still waiting for their electricity supplies to be restored. As part of the effort to help with repairing the network, engineers have arrived in NI from across the UK.
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks said its more than 1,550 staff and contractors have been working “tirelessly” to restore power, though some areas may not see electricity return until 10pm on Saturday.
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Construction Director at Fibrus, Jenny Lennon, has put a spotlight on the essential teams working around the clock to get Northern Ireland back up and running following the impact of Storm Eowyn.
Jenny said: “The Met Office called Storm Eowyn the strongest storm in 10 years and the damage it has caused to infrastructure across the country has been truly unprecedented. The storm may have passed, but the destruction left in its wake will take some time to repair.”
“We know how important connectivity is, particularly to those in rural areas. As soon as the storm subsided, and it was safe to do so, we mobilised our teams to assess the damage and start getting our customers back into service.
“Restoration efforts are well underway, and we are using every resource available, including teams from GB with more arriving this week to provide connectivity to families and businesses as quickly as possible.”
Kieran Martin, Operations Director at Viberoptix, told Belfast Live what it has been like working to repair the devastation caused by Storm Eowyn. Kieran works for Viberoptix, a network build partner for Fibrus, who are delivering Full Fibre broadband to rural and hard-to-reach parts of Northern Ireland.
Kieran said: “Since Storm Eowyn hit last Friday, my teams have been on the front line, working to repair the extensive damage across the country. This storm has been the worst I've ever come across and it has left a significant mark on our network infrastructure.
“The teams' days start early. My crews hit the road at the crack of dawn, aiming to repair as much of the network as possible. Our teams are repairing a significant amount of infrastructure on a daily basis, restoring service as we mobilise through co-ordinated towns and villages. It's a demanding schedule, but knowing how essential broadband is to people’s everyday lives keeps us all motivated.”
The damage has been widespread across Northern Ireland, with Kieran and his team working around the clock to restore the network.
“This week, we’ve been responding in all areas where the damage from Storm Eowyn has been severe. There weren’t many areas of Northern Ireland that didn’t get impacted by the storm, but the countryside experienced some of the worst aftereffects.
“Seeing the extent of the damage first hand has been both challenging and humbling. I feel proud to be one of many teams, working together across different industries, to help get the country back up and running.” Kieran continued.
With a mass clean-up operation rolled out right across Northern Ireland, Fibrus works closely in collaboration with other utility providers to ensure a safe and speedy repair plan is in place and executed.
Jenny said: “Restoring the network after such a major storm involves close collaboration with our teams, supply chain, and other utility providers. We have a strategic process in place that ensures our teams are working safely and efficiently. This situation is dynamic and of significant scale and teamwork is essential.”
Kieran said: “When we arrive at a site, our first priority is always health and safety. We ensure the area is safe for both our workers and the public before we begin assessing and repairing the infrastructure. The sheer extent of the damage has been unprecedented, but our team's resilience and dedication has been remarkable and something I am very proud of.
“Despite the challenges we face, team morale remains high. Everyone understands that the storm's damage is beyond anyone's control, and we're all committed to working hard together. Even though conditions can be tough, we always manage to have some craic to keep our spirits high!
“The public's response has also been overwhelmingly positive. The people we’ve come across have been understanding and appreciative. Their kindness and support mean a lot to us and helps keep us going in the cold mornings and dark evenings.
“What keeps me motoring on during these tough days at work is knowing that our work is vital. Broadband is critical these days, especially because so many people work from home now too. Helping people regain their connectivity is really rewarding and makes all the hard work worthwhile.
“Our team continues to push forward, driven by the knowledge that we're making a difference in people's lives. It's a challenging job, but it's one that I'm proud to do every day, especially in times like these.”
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