Storm Eunice rips across West Sussex
The worst storm West Sussex had seen in years brought chaos to the county on Friday with severe wind leading to schools closing, trees falling and power cuts.
Storm Eunice hit on Friday after a red weather warning was issued by the Met Office, which warned people to expect flying debris ‘resulting in a danger to life’, alongside damage to buildings and homes.
Power outages were experienced in parts of the county, particularly across the South Downs, with issues continuing in some places into this week.
The Royal Oak pub in Midhurst offered free hot drinks, soup and wifi as residents in Easebourne spent their third day without power on Monday.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said its control centre – which covers Sussex and Surrey – handled more than 500 calls between 8am and 5.30pm on Friday.
West Sussex firefighters attended about 70 emergency incidents, including fallen trees and dangerous structures such as loose building cladding and roof tiles. Calls continued coming in over the weekend as a result of Storm Franklin, a spokesman said.
The county’s schools were closed on Friday. The county council had on Thursday – while the Met Office’s level of warning was at amber level – told schools to ‘consider their individual circumstances’ when assessing the need to close.
But as the situation changed on Friday morning, the county council said: “This morning, after the Met Office upgraded the warning to red for Sussex, we contacted schools advising they should close.”
The transport network was also heavily affected. Dozens of flights were cancelled at Gatwick Airport, while Southern Rail urged people not to travel, with a limited service running.
Tourist attractions including the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Singleton, Petworth House and Park, Amberley Museum, Uppark House and Denmans Garden at Fontwell all announced closures in the interest of public safety.
And the storm caused widespread damage. Allie Merriott captured the scene in Mill Road, Arundel (pictured above), with large trees uprooted. Elsewhere, a trampoline was spotted atop a house in Petworth, a car was crushed by a tree in Southwick and a fence panel was spotted up a tree in Littlehampton. Fallen trees blocked numerous roads. The A284 at Lyminster was closed in both directions, police said, due to a fallen tree on a car, and the level crossing was closed.
Trees also blocked parts of the A24 throughout the day and fallen power cables in Amberley Road, Storrington, caused another closure.
Homes, shops and other buildings were battered by winds, with emergency services busy making scenes safe.
Temporary traffic lights at Lyons Farm, Worthing, on the A27, were blown over and cladding on the roof of Argos nearby came loose.
Police cordoned off Nyetimber Lane in Pagham after the roof was torn off the football club’s main stand.