Get Help to Weather the Storm The past few months have seen the UK battered by a series of major storms, causing widespread disruption as strong winds and heavy rain flooded homes, brought down power lines and led to rail and flight cancellations. Since October last year, thousands of people have been forced out of their homes due to one of the wettest winters on record in the country. In late October, the storm of St Jude barrelled across parts of Europe and Britain. This caused tidal surges and landslides, leading to closure of roads and travel disruption. Stormy weather continued until the month of February, when a combination of strong winds, rain and rising water levels caused severe floods, forcing many to evacuate their homes. In Banbury and its surrounding villages, people faced severe power outages as a result of the floods and the bad weather. Banbury is particularly susceptible to flooding during heavy rains due to the geography of the valley along the river that runs through it. Thousands of homes were left without power in Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Berkshire due to the damage caused by the extreme weather. To support the people and communities affected by the storm, many local businesses across the country are working together providing financial and other support. Among these are waste management companies such as Dial A Bin UK, who specialise in waste collection and domestic and commercial waste disposal. Much is being done to help those affected by the storms and flooding in the UK: Flood Volunteering: Many companies across the UK are attempting to help people in the flood-stricken parts of the country by volunteering their time, equipment and skills. For instance, the online community floodvolunteers.co.uk has been launched by Thales and Airbus to help connect people in need with local volunteers. Waste Management: It is also important for the affected communities to conduct efficient and timely clean-up of debris generated by the storm. For this, local waste disposal companies such as Dial A Bin UK are helping to clear the debris resulting from the storms. These waste management specialists can also provide skips and other waste containers for hire to facilitate the process of waste disposal and recycling in and around Banbury, Brackley, Buckingham, Bicester, Northampton, Oxford and Milton Keynes. Power Companies: Power distribution companies across the country are offering compensation for households that are without power for more than 24-48 hours as a result of the storms. Additionally, energy companies have also stated that they will consider the claims of those facing financial difficulties as a result of the bad weather. Network operators and engineers are working around the clock to ensure that power is restored to those areas that have been affected by the storms. Supermarkets: Local supermarkets are providing emergency funds and necessary goods like batteries, clothing, food provisions, torches and bottled water for those affected by the weather. Many shops like Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer are providing food provisions to relief workers and those living in affected areas. In addition to the above, banks, councils and tax authorities have also offered to help flood victims with financial assistance and by waiving some bills for flood-hit householders and small businesses. By lending a helping hand to one another and with the assistance of local businesses such as Dial A Bin UK, flood victims can come through this difficult time.