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Latest weather update from KCC Emergency Planning
Covers ALL Kent
Good afternoon
The weather situation and forecast is not favourable at present. Snow is going to continue to fall over the next 48 hours with similar amounts as today 5-10cm possibly 20cm over higher ground heading South West - it will become colder with strong winds and drifting is expected. Weather conditions will compound problems particularly in the North West of the County. It is predicted that rush hour will start early this afternoon with businesses and schools closing early. Additionally, high winds along the English Channel are also forecast and as a result, Operation Stack (Phase 1) is now in force between J11 and J12 of the M20.
Train services are severely disrupted across the county with info on this being posted on the South-eastern railways website. key details as follows:
State of the network at 1300
High Speed services between London St Pancras, Ashford, Canterbury and Ramsgate and also London St Pancras, Gravesend, the Medway Towns, Faversham and Ramsgate are operating normally and non high speed tickets are being passed on these services.
Suspended routes
· Orpington to Sevenoaks
· Tonbridge to Hastings via Tunbridge Wells
· Strood to Paddock Wood via Maidstone West
· Sheerness to Sittingbourne
· Elmers End to Hayes
· Swanley to Rochester
· Through north/south services via Thameslink
Network Rail and Southeastern engineers are working to re-open the main line between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, between Tonbridge and Hastings and between Swanley and Rochester. This is a priority.
A special service every 90 minutes from London Bridge via East Croydon and Redhill has been put in place in order to maintain a link with Tonbridge.
Half hour shuttle services are operating between:
· Tonbridge and Ashford
· London Victoria, Maidstone East and Ashford
· London to Dartford via Greenwich
· London to Dartford via Sidcup
· London to Dartford via Bexleyheath
· London to Orpington
Hourly shuttle service are operating between:
· Dover and Faversham via Canterbury East
· Dover to Ramsgate via Deal
Replacement buses have been deployed to cover suspended routes but their operation is erratic due to the local road conditions.
Our engineers are also having extreme difficulty getting to remote trackside locations and failed trains because of the road conditions.
"Ghost trains" will continue to operate during the night in order to keep routes open and de-icing train will operate throughout the network spraying the conductor rail in order to prevent ice forming.
In general, the other multi-agency partners report that things are difficult, but systems are coping if somewhat reduced in some areas. All hospitals are at capacity but coping. Gritting regimes are well in place with the Highways Agency, KHS and Medway, dealing with regular gritting patterns and "on demand" needs as required. It is difficult to manage customer expectation as response times can be adversely affected by congestion and the weather conditions. The Dartford Crossing is being monitored closely as a pinch-point, and checks are being made on both Sheppey crossings. As you can imagine, there are sporadic road closures and accidents that are compounding problems.
From a KCC emergency response viewpoint, we have been monitoring the situation and assisting with calls for 4x4 support. Additionally, our Warden service is monitoring the situation at the local level and providing support and information as necessary. Looking ahead, we plan to make similar rest centre/refuge centre contingency arrangements available in case of gridlock. We will continue to staff the CEC into the evening to ensure that the night time situation and demands are clear and secured.
Media messaging is being coordinated by the Police with KCC playing its part. We have voiced a view that specific messaging should be targeted at HGV drivers, as these vehicles compound problems when they are involved in a road traffic incident. Some excellent Knet and kent.gov.uk info is available, which signposts to the right sources of info.
Contact centre call loads are higher than normal (by 37%) but the centre is coping well. Most calls related to enquiries about gritting routes, school closures and checking if evening adult education classes are still running. KCC critical functions appear to to be operating well, and specific measures to support key social care activities are in place. 132 schools fully closed mainly in Dartford, Gravesham, Tunbridge Wells, Swanley, Sevenoaks Maidstone and Canterbury. Several schools had already decided to close early and further disruption will increase throughout the day. Kent Facilities are assisting with building continuity and the provision of identifying spare desks within the buildings they manage.
The next SCG is at 16:00, the next KCC Silver meeting is at 17:00.
Our focus points for today are as follows:
* Continue to send out regular updates to senior staff
* Continue to update and monitor the weather and travel situation, and the impact to Kent
* Consider our working into this evening and ensure that we are satisfied with our emergency response, including 4x4 support.
* Consider the necessity for standing by of strategically located rest centres
* Ensure consistent media messaging with partners.