A trailer firm is helping energy bosses prepare for any future flood emergencies and power cuts.

D & R Alexander & Son, from Inverness, has supplied Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) with 12 BV105 box vans from Ifor Williams Trailers to transport its new generators to flood-torn towns and villages affected by future storms.

The generators will be used to provide electricity for those in most need on its Priority Service Register, including people those requiring dialysis, critically ill patients in the community, those on life-saving ventilators, newborn babies and elderly people at risk of hyperthermia

SSEPD has bought 64 new mobile generators after gale force winds and torrential rain wreaked havoc in the region during the New Year/Hogmanay period, damaging homes and leaving thousands without power in freezing temperatures across northern Scotland.

The move is part of ongoing work to ensure the firm is as prepared as possible for the impact of future storms, bad weather and potential flooding like those on the scale of Storm Frank earlier this year.

SSEPD needs versatile trailers to be able to mobilise generators quickly in the event of an emergency. The Ifor Williams BV105 was considered perfect for the job with its robust handling to tackle remote landscapes, built-in rear ramp and capacity to carry six generators at once, each of which can power one home.

The generators will now be distributed across remote areas of Scotland including the Shetland Isles, Orkney and the Western Isles ready to be mobilised by the 16-strong mobile generator team based in the north of Scotland in the event of further severe floods and storms.

Martin Hay, mobile generation manager for SSEPD in the north, said: “My team and I were working around the clock over the Hogmanay period, finishing in the early hours of the morning on January 31st and heading straight out again at 6am. We were all doing long hours to help as many people as we could.

“Many of the areas affected by the flooding were inaccessible as roads had been closed which made it difficult to get in with the generators. Parts of Perthshire and Aberdeenshire suffered the brunt of the weather.

“Although the extra generators would not have offered much assistance this time around because of the inaccessibility factor, we’ve decided to increase the fleet for future emergencies.

“The mobile generators are smaller and will allow us to connect more people in a short space of time because you can load between four and six on each trailer as opposed to one large generator. This means we can reconnect more people and save time.

“The trailers will be being used to deliver the small generators to affected areas so that we can get to customers quickly and get them back on power within a short time. Primarily these are people with critical care needs including those on dialysis, people on ventilators, those with complex medical needs, newborn babies and other vulnerable people.”

Mark Alexander, a director of the D & R Alexander & Son, the company his father Donald launched 40 years ago, said the firm had been delighted to offer its expertise to SSEPD when Martin approached about expanding the mobile generator fleet.

“While we were not personally affected by the flooding many, many people were and either lost electricity or saw their homes damaged by water,” said the 40-year-old, from Reay.

“There was literally water going in the back door and coming out of the front it was that bad. Some people will be out of their homes for more than a year. We were pleased to be able to help SSEPD deal with future emergencies.”

Mark said the Ifor Williams BV105 was a solid, reliable trailer which could withstand the roughest of terrain and conditions.

“We believe it’s much more robust than other trailer brands. Ifor Williams is well-known in the trailer industry for its superior suspension and has been for the last 50 years. It’s a well-built, solid trailer.

“We’re the main distributor for the north of Scotland and carry all spare parts and accessories – whatever is damaged in the course of duty we will have a replacement in stock. This means a trailer is never off the road for long, which is vital when you’re talking about an emergency response situation.”

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News » Trailer firm powers flood emergency preparation