Households across the UK are being urged to stay away from windows and keep doors closed as Storm Eowyn takes hold.
A red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday, while amber warnings for wind and yellow warnings for rain are in place covering parts of England and Wales.
The British Red Cross is urging people to prepare in their homes to avoid flying debris, overflowing gutters and falling bracnhes.
Chris Davies, director of crisis response and community resilience at the British Red Cross, said: “As British Red Cross teams wait on standby to support communities across the UK, we are advising people to be as prepared as they can be.
“We have a lot of advice to help, simple things like securing loose objects in your garden, ensuring windows and doors are securely closed and making an evacuation plan for your family and pets which can make all the difference.”
What to do during a storm
At home or in a building:
- If you can, stay inside until the storm has passed.
- Shut all windows, close doors, and keep away from windows.
- Do not use a landline telephone unless it’s an emergency.
- Do not attempt any repairs while the storm is ongoing, wait until it has passed. Be aware that even after, there is still a danger.
- If you must leave the house, use an exit or entrance that’s sheltered from the storm.
- Stay away from boundary walls and fences; it they fall, you may be injured.
- If you’re not at home, don’t attempt to travel. Instead, seek shelter nearby in a building or vehicle.
What to do after a storm
- Don’t walk too close to walls, buildings, and trees as they could have been weakened
- If you feel safe and can, check on vulnerable neighbours or family members
- If a fallen tree or hazard is an immediate danger to life, please call 999
Mr Davies added: “Tragically, the reality is that communities most at risk feel the worst effects of a storm when it hits. This hampers their ability to recover after a crisis and prepare for the next one.
“Through our work, we continue to see the real human impact this has and why it is so vital we prioritise resilience and emergency preparedness.
“As the UK continues to see an increase in extreme weather events, we must see greater support to help communities recover and adapt.”
