Member Update: Storm Eunice

Headline Date 18-02-2022

The Met Office has issued rare Red Weather Warnings as Storm Eunice is expected to bring extremely strong winds and continued disruption for much of the UK today (18th February).

The Red Warning comes into force across London, southern and eastern England at 10am. It’s the first Red Warning ever for either London or the south-east, since the impact system was instigated in 2011. The most significant wind gusts are expected in the south and west of the UK, with a red warning in force in Westminster from 10am to 3pm. The Met Office has warned of a risk of flying debris causing a danger to life, the potential for fallen trees, power cuts, damage to buildings and travel disruption. Businesses are being advised to secure loose objects, use caution placing waste bags on street, as well as Alfresco areas.

Updates from Westminster City Council:
For information about what to do before, during and after the storm, and where to get help if you need it visit Westminster City Council’s website here.

If you are a business in Westminster and require support, please call the council’s contact centre on 020 7641 7000 and state that you are affected by the storm. You can also contact the Business Unit for assistance by emailing businessunit@westminster.gov.uk or by calling 020 7641 2070. Business owners who are insurance policy-holders are encouraged to contact your insurance providers to check whether you might be able to make a claim on any damage or losses incurred owing to the storm.

You can report an on-street problem by calling the call center on 020 7641 6000 or use the “Report It” function on www.westminster.gov.uk. The council’s website will be updated every two hours if new issues occur, and information is needed to be relayed.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol:
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated due to Storm Eunice, which gives rough sleepers access to emergency cold weather accommodation. If you are concerned about an individual in the area the best way to help is to talk to them and make a referral to Streetlink, finding out their name and any other information if possible. Your referral will then be picked up by Outreach teams who will go and visit the individual and begin to help them. You can also get in touch with the BIDs’ Community Intervention Team, if you are worried about an individual, by phoning the team on 0207 592 1851 or emailing communityinterventionteam@passage.org.uk.

The BIDs are working closely with our partners at Westminster City Council and the Met Police and are being regularly updated with developments relating to Storm Eunice. We will provide further updates as the day progresses on our Victoria Emergency Notification System (VENS) and Twitter platforms. If you would like to be added to the VENS get in touch with our team here. If your business is part of the Victoria Radio Link scheme you can also get in touch with our street teams via your radio.