(Newswire.net — October 28, 2013) —
As the Saint Jude storm is gathering force out over the Atlantic, most of Britain’s southern coastline is recovering from the battering it received from the 80 miles per hour plus gales and heavy rain last night and this morning.
The patron saint of desperate causes it seems very much lived up to its name, but there could be much worse to come.
Rachel Vince, a forecaster for Meteogroup, said members of the public should employ their common sense before venturing outside. Ms Vince, in a phrase that could strike fear into the parents of energetic children on half-term holiday, advised an “indoor activities day”.
Councils across the country were on standby overnight last night in case of flooding and thousands of sandbags are stored ready to put into action for what could be the biggest operation in a decade.
A representative from Rhondda Cynon Taff Council said “it’s the most prepared we have been for ten years, we’ve got everything ready if the storm hits us, but hopefully it doesn’t hit us”.
Travel chaos has been caused on the UK’s road and rail networks with hundreds of fallen trees blocking rail lines and busy commuter routes. In some areas train timetables are being reduced whilst many services suffered cancellations and delays. Ferry companies were also forced to cancel crossings on the Irish Sea and English Channel.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom though, as there were a select few who were relishing the conditions and taking advantage of the stormy seas to capture the bigger than normal waves with their windsurfers and water boards.
For most people however, all they can do now is plan for a disruptive time ahead, with difficulties getting to and from work and getting children to half term activities safely.
The infamous former BBC Weatherman Michael Fish yesterday urged Britons to “baton down the hatches”. Good advice indeed, but do you know how to prepare your home and family for when disaster strikes. Would you know how to survive in a crisis? You can read more about it by clicking here.