Henwood Garage, Ashford, loses entire wall as a result of Storm Eunice's strong winds, as Storm Franklin now threatens
12:31, 20 February 2022
updated: 15:55, 21 February 2022
Security are manning a garage in Ashford which suffered immense damage in Storm Eunice.
A whole wall of Henwood Garage crumbled in ferocious winds on Friday, leaving a gaping hole at the site.
Today, a security guard at Henwood Industrial Estate is preventing people from gaining access to the cars and equipment.
A Kia Picanto courtesy car and red Ford Fiesta remain in the garage.
The garage, which shut on Friday due to "adverse weather conditions", is closed today.
Other firms on the industrial estate have not suffered damage to the extent of Henwood Garage.
Businesses and homes across the county are in the process of cleaning up damage and calculating the cost of repair bills.
More than 11,000 homes are still without power and there are still delays on the Southeastern network.
A number of the county's villages are without electricity, with residents in Mersham, Brabourne and Smeeth reporting no power.
But just as Kent's clean-up operation gets underway, Storm Franklin is now set to batter the UK.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind which could cause travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts from midnight until 7am on Monday.
Elsewhere contractors at Golding Homes were at the Park Wood estate in Maidstone this weekend after damage was caused to one of the homes built as part of a 2015 regeneration.
Terry Spillard, assistant director of customers at Golding Homes, said: “We’re responding to some damage to one of our homes on Park Wood caused by Storm Eunice today, our team were on site now making things safe.
"We’re speaking with the customer impacted by this and making sure they are okay over the weekend."
Over on Sheppey around £5,000 of damage has been caused at the Curly's Farm, a charity set up by Garry and Kyle Ratcliffe to thank Islanders who helped when Nick Knowles' BBC TV show DIY SOS completely rebuilt the couple's bungalow in Brambledown to cater for their four adopted children.
It lost its poultry shed below and some of the fox proof fencing surrounding the hen houses. A field shelter housing Pygmy goats was also lost as was cattle shed roofing.
Farm manager Jack Spice-Andrews said: "Fortunately no animals or people were hurt. But our insurance does not cover these items."
A GoFundMe page has been set up which has so far raised nearly £2,000 of a £5,000 target and with the farm closed today many people today donated their promised refunds back to the charity.
In Staplehurst, where many were left without power yesterday, Luke Eastwood was one of several people helping sort out fallen trees and debris.
On Friday evening, he said: "I only went out for a pint of milk and five hours later, six blocked roads and I’m home.
"I will say a huge well done to all who got stuck in and helped to clear the roads. With KCC and the police at full stretch we rely heavily on community."
In Lenham, Pauline Duncan-Webster said she had been without power since 6.45pm on Friday.
She said: "I'm fast running out of charge on my phone and signal is very poor.
"We've uncovered our caravan and are currently using that but have now run out of gas so my husband is going to try and find some more as we need it for heating and cooking.
"A kind friend has taken the contents of our freezer and my elderly mother in law who we share the house with has gone to her sister's in Hastings as she's finding it very difficult to keep warm now.
"We are hoping we will have power later today but another friend in Harrietsham has been told they won't be back on till 4ish tomorrow."
Meteorologist Becky Mitchell said this is the first time the national forecaster has recorded three major storms in such quick succession since the naming system was introduced seven years ago.
She told the PA news agency: “This is the first time we have had three named storms within a week, and we started the storm naming system in 2015.
“At the moment we’ve got a really active jet stream, which is why we’re seeing so many storms track right towards the UK.
“We had Dudley on Wednesday, Eunice on Friday and Franklin today.”
Milder yellow warnings for wind also cover Wales, Northern Ireland and most of England from midday on Sunday until 1pm on Monday.
Winds could reach speeds of up to 60mph in coastal areas, but should ease on Tuesday.
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