NIE crew have 50 homes to reconnect back to power supply

EMERGENCY medical supplies and food are being dropped in by helicopter to people left stranded and isolated by the heavy snow in Northern Ireland.

The emergency services, Red Cross, RAF, and the PSNI and others are working together to provide basic supplies to people snowed in for days.

First Minister Peter Robinson has suggested the executive may look at how to compensate farmers who have lost livestock.

About 50 properties are still without power but Northern Ireland Electricity hopes that by Tuesday those remaining will be back on the grid.

Food boxes containing bread and milk are being airlifted to rural residents.

In a statement on Monday night, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said: “We are all working hard to get the supplies to those in areas where vehicular access is difficult.

“Some of these people have now been snowed in for four days and it is vital we ensure they have adequate food and medical supplies.

“While there has been an improvement in conditions in many areas, there are still hazardous conditions in a number of areas.”

The organisations working together include the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, mountain rescue teams, road service and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

Representatives from local councils, electricity providers, health providers and volunteers are also involved.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has been asked if it can use military helicopters to help drop food parcels to animals stranded by the snow.

Many sheep farmers have been unable to get food supplies to their livestock.

Farmer Campbell Tweed, from Cairncastle, near Larne, in County Antrim, said some of his sheep were getting their first feed in four days.

“Road conditions are just incredibly bad. There’s places where the snow at the side of the road is higher than the vehicles.

“It’s coming late in a very, very tough winter – it’s just putting the tin hat on us for many of us.”

The first minister, Peter Robinson, said his party had asked for the Territorial Army to help clear roads.

Mr Robinson was speaking on a visit to Dromara, County Down, one of the worst affected areas, where sheep farmers have been badly hit.

Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill asked the secretary of state for urgent access to helicopter support.

Speaking after visiting farms in the Glenarm area of County Antrim, she said: “My department is currently sourcing livestock feed for those most affected.

“A main priority is to ensure roads are cleared to help farmers in dealing with the effects of the severe weather, and I have been speaking with Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy today on how our department’s can work closer on this issue.

“I have instructed rivers agency staff to provide support to the roads service to assist in clearing minor roads in affected areas which will assist in getting much needed access to these areas.

“I have also instructed the chief executive of the forest service to deploy their tracked vehicles to help support this work.”

Abandoned cars have also been causing disruption on some roads.

NIE said it worked to restore power to more than 137,000 customers over the weekend. Thousands lost their supply due to strong winds and heavy snow.

On Monday evening, about 50 customers were still without power in the Kilcoo and Leitrim and Ballyvoy area of Ballycastle.