Thursday 17 January 2013
With forecasts predicting the possibility of snow, the States of Guernsey has put preparations in place should we experience snow or icy conditions, which potentially can disrupt normal services. The services listed below are likely to be impacted should the island experience prolonged cold weather and you should expect the following response/action:
Traffic - many roads may be icy and therefore dangerous to drive on. Guernsey Police will continuously assess road safety conditions and will regularly issue information to the local media stations. Advice is likely to focus on the conditions of the roads and may suggest that only essential journeys should be considered. The individual is responsible for deciding if their journey is essential and whether they have a suitable vehicle/driving experience for such a journey.
The Public Services Department have invested in significant resources to ensure that the island is suitably prepared, including the purchase of the chemical Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) and a number of lorry mounted gritters. States Works, a division of the Public Services Department, is responsible for looking after the Island's roads during times of snow. When snow is forecast, patrols are out from 3.00am checking the main routes used to assess if gritting should begin.
If and when gritting can commence, set routes of arterial roads will be treated with de-icer. Due to the risk of contaminating the island's water supply, salt can only be used outside the water catchment area. Other services such as Education and Airport etc also hold stock piles of CMA for their own facilities. Individuals may purchase their own supplies of CMA from States Works. Each public transport service will decide if they are able to provide a full or restricted service that day based on road safety information and will endeavour to provide updates to the local media as soon as available.
Business - Most employers will expect staff to attend work utilising other means of transport if necessary. If wintery conditions are forecast it is advisable to refresh your understanding of your employers policy during snowy/icy conditions and make arrangements for alternative means of transport/working.
Schools - The Education Department has made specific arrangements for the assessment, management and operation of each of its schools in severe weather conditions. Stocks of CMA are in place on each site, which will be applied to snow or ice as required to provide safe access to and from school buildings. Whilst the Department will make every effort to open all schools which are able to operate in a safe environment, there may be some which cannot open due to unsafe access, issues with the facilities (e.g. burst water pipes or heating system failures) or insufficient staffing levels. The decision as to whether schools are open or not will be made once the Department has received the relevant information from individual sites and considered guidance from other agencies in respect of current and forecast road/pavement and weather conditions. An announcement should be expected by 7.15am on a weekday morning.
It is expected that parents use their discretion to keep a child at home if they believe that conditions are such as to make it unreasonable or unsafe for the child to attempt to reach school
When severe weather conditions arise during the school day, announcements will be made as soon as decisions are taken and regularly thereafter.
The grant-aided Colleges will make their own decisions whether to open or not based on their respective operational circumstances and will advise the media accordingly.
The Emergency Services - The emergency services have put in place arrangements so that they will be able to continue to provide a service for emergency calls.
Health and Social Services Department - Have their own transport arrangements for staff during wintry conditions thereby ensuring that the majority of Health and Social Services Department continues to function. St Johns Ambulance and Rescue Service will assist with the provision of transport for essential patients.
Airport - Sufficient snowfall to disrupt airport operations is a rare occurrence in Guernsey, therefore the provision of extensive snow clearing equipment on island does not represent value for money. However, within the constraints of available resources, Guernsey Airport will make every effort to plan for and deal with snow and ice contamination. Snow and Ice on the airport can inevitably introduce potential hazards to aircraft operations and to apron activities. Snowfall can impose significant restrictions on the availability of the airport capacity and can be expected to lead to disruption of normal aircraft operations. In prolonged or severe snowfall, disruption can last for over 24 hours. Whilst Guernsey Airport makes every reasonable effort to clear snow and ice from airside areas, it is a lengthy process.
Individuals can also take steps to be better prepared should temperatures fall to ensure you stay warm, healthy and safe.
• Get your free flu jab by contacting you GP. If you are aged 65 or over, pregnant, have certain medical conditions, live in a residential or nursing home, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person.
• Keep warm by setting your heating to the right temperature (18-21°C 65-70°F), you can keep your home warm and your bills as low as possible.
• Make sure that you know where your stop tap is, and that it works so that you can turn off the water supply if needed
• Check on neighbours and relatives who are elderly or unwell and see if they need anything. This can be particularly important if the individual is unable to leave their home.
Further information - is available from "The Get Ready for Winter" initiative hosted on the UK Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter which highlights some very practical and straight forward advice to help individuals and communities prepare for a range of winter weathers and provide top tips on Health and Well-being, Protecting Your Home, Out and About, and; Communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't we grit all the roads straight away when snow falls?
In the UK the "grit" which is used during times of snow is actually rock salt. When applied, this melts the snow and ice leaving a clear or at worst "slushy" road for vehicles to drive on.
As most of the island forms part of the water catchment area for Guernsey Water and who in turn provide our drinking water, rock salt can not be applied as it could pollute this resource. Instead Public Services Department holds a stock of de-icer based around Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) also in the form of 'grit'. CMA is much more expensive than rock salt so because of this only the main arterial traffic routes are treated with de-icer. Salt based products must not under any circumstances be used on any property without the written authority of Guernsey Water.
What facilities/equipment does Guernsey have to cope with snow?
States Works have three lorry demountable gritters, plus a number of smaller pedestrian gritting machines, they also hold a stock of de-icer grit.
Guernsey Airport holds specialist equipment and de-icer to treat both aircraft and airside activities.
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Contact Information
Catherine Veron
Emergency Planning Officer
Tel: 01481 717000
Email: home@gov.gg
