Press Release

Red Cross helps families following power cuts in parts of eastern and southern England

11 March 2008

British Red Cross volunteers have been called out to assist people throughout eastern and southern parts of England who are without power following severe weather conditions.
 
Last night (March 10) eight trained volunteers gave practical and emotional support to more than 130 people living in homes and a caravan park in Capel Le Ferne, Folkestone. The Red Cross has also been called out to Gillingham, Canterbury, and Ashford. In addition to deployments in Kent, volunteers have also been assisting people in Poslingford, Suffolk, and Horsham in West Sussex, where they have distributed hot water and gas heaters. 
 
British Red Cross service manager, David Nelson, who was called out to Folkestone last night, said: "Many people had been without power for some time so we went round to make sure people were safe and well. We handed out teas and coffees and talked to a few who needed reassurance and wanted to know when the power would be back on. We were there for about two hours."
 
The British Red Cross was asked to assist by EDF Energy Networks. The British Red Cross has just signed an agreement with the company, which supplies electricity to 7.8 million customers in London, the South-East and the East of England, to provide practical and emotional support to communities in the event of power shortages.