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Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) has donated £10,000 to the RNLI after the organisation helped it reconnect customers when flooding cut power in Upper Deeside at the end of last year.
Volunteers from the RNLI came to the distribution operator’s aid when the force of the swollen river caused severe damage to overhead power lines which SHEPD had to reconnect.
They provided rocket-powered line throwers to enable strengthened new overhead lines to be reattached across the river Dee in four places while the area was still flooded, cutting down the time customers were left without power.
SHEPD’s regional manager for the North East Neil Wilson said: “Without the local RNLI’s support, it could have taken much longer safely to rebuild the river crossings which had been swept away.
“Over successive days, they helped rebuild power lines, repair telephone links and provide whatever support they could to the emergency response.”
SHEPD said it wanted to recognise the specialist skills and resources that were freely given to support the recovery effort.
The network operator rebuilt 22 spans of overhead line between Aboyne, Ballater and Braemar in the aftermath of the flood.
Storm Frank brought torrential rainfall which, when combined with rapid snowmelt, caused a flood surge on 31 December 2015, cutting off 50,000 of SHEPD’s customers.
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