Secretary of State Hilary Benn has pledged the UK Government’s full support dealing with the aftermath of the widespread damage caused by Storm Éowyn.
Tens of thousands of properties remain without electricity as a small army of NIE workers has been deployed following the storm.
Some residents who lost power during Friday’s storm have been told it will not be restored until next Monday, with east Tyrone and parts of Co Down particularly badly affected.
Leisure and community centres were open on Sunday for those wanting to warm themselves, have a shower or charge their phone
Damage was also caused to schools, with some still without power. Education Minister Paul Givan asked schools affected to consider moving to remote learning on Monday.
“To date, over 100 schools have reported damage to their property ranging from minor damage to fences, missing roof tiles to more significant structural damage,” the Education Minister said.
“The Education Authority’s maintenance service is currently working hard to prioritise the most critical repairs across Northern Ireland."
More than 50 engineers from England arrived over this weekend, 30 assisting NIE and 22 helping ESB Networks in the south. French technicians also travelled to provide assistance.
There has been extensive damage to the electricity network in the Fivemiletown area - our helicopter has identified sizeable sections that will need repaired. #StormÉowyn #Fermanagh pic.twitter.com/Ceby4uwFE9
— NIE Networks (@NIElectricity) January 26, 2025
Power was restored to 210,000 properties by early evening, but 75,000 still remained without electricity. More than 1,000 workers were on the ground over the weekend.
On Sunday evening, ESB Networks had restored supply to 490,000 homes, farms and businesses, with 278,000 still without electricity.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to the First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly as the UK Government pledged its support.
Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly visited NIE Networks in Craigavon on Saturday afternoon to thank workers.
The First Minister described the storm and its impact as “unprecedented on every level”.
“People will continue to work tirelessly to ensure people are reconnected as quickly as possible. It is very difficult given the sheer volume of damage that has been caused but we’re assured that all the work that can be done is being done and we want to thank the staff for all of their efforts,” she said.
Ms Little-Pengelly welcomed the additional engineers, and said officials will be emphasising the need for support for Northern Ireland in meetings with the Prime Minister and political leaders across the UK.
Secretary of State Benn said further support for equipment and personnel is being examined.
“The scale of the damage wrought by this storm is deeply concerning, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to all those working hard to restore electricity, clear fallen trees and debris and keep people safe,” he said.
“I am pleased that under mutual aid arrangements, specialist engineers from England are already in Northern Ireland to assist with the urgent effort to restore power to communities and more are on their way.
“We are also examining how we can assist with other requests made by the Executive and Northern Ireland Electricity for equipment and personnel.
“I will continue to work closely with Cabinet colleagues and Northern Ireland Executive ministers in the days ahead to make sure we are doing all that we can to support those affected.”
Derek Hynes, Managing Director of NIE Networks, said: “Our restoration efforts are well underway. We are still visiting locations where damage has been caused and are working on the faults that will get power back to the highest possible numbers of homes and businesses.”
NIE Networks said that destructive winds caused “unprecedented” damage to the electricity network. A yellow wind warning for gusts of up to 60mph was in place until 7pm on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon, the company shared helicopter footage of ‘extensive damage’ to the network in the Fivemiletown area.
The water supply remains disrupted, with NI Water citing loss of electrical power at pumping stations and damage to equipment.
“Our priority is the restoration of water supplies for all customers and we will continue to carry out repairs and deploy generators until all assets are operational,” the company said.
“We’ve also been tankering water into some locations in Co Tyrone to restore supplies. Bottled Water is available for customers to collect at Omagh Leisure Centre, Enniskillen Lakeland Forum, and Dungiven Sports Centre.”
SDLP agriculture spokesperson Patsy McGlone said rural areas have been among the worst affected following the storm.
The Mid Ulster MLA said: “I have also been working with local farms that have been left without both electricity and water as their water is pumped uphill by an electricity driven pump in some of the more mountainous areas of the north.
“This could be disastrous for the animals on these farms without access to water and warnings that it could take over a week for them to be reconnected.”
Several flights into Belfast International and City Airports had to abandon landings due to continued high winds on Sunday. All eventually landed safely.
The PSNI said people should continue to take care on the roads as many are still impassable following the storm, with fallen trees, power lines and debris.
The Health and Safety Executive warned of the dangers of carbon monoxide, telling people to only use equipment to keep warm that is designed for use inside the home.
Two teenagers had to be rescued on Saturday in the middle of a snow storm after being stranded on the north’s highest mountain, Slieve Donard in Co Down.
