A young wheelchair-user who has been without power for close to two weeks has said she feels “forgotten about” and is “losing hope”. Emma Ward (22), from Athenry, Co Galway, has been without electricity since late on Thursday, January 23rd, as Storm Éowyn braced the country.
Ms Ward was born with scoliosis and has hurler syndrome, a genetic condition that affects a person’s organs. She also had a hip replacement last year.
Ms Ward said ESB Networks Powercheck service informed her family that their electricity would return on Wednesday night, but the online estimation time “keeps moving”.
“It’s very frustrating,” she said. “I go between a manual wheelchair and a power chair. I haven’t really been able to charge my power chair. I got it charged a few days ago but it was really difficult, and I’m not going to be able to do that again because of how difficult it was.
“My power wheelchair is very heavy and now I’m having to monitor how long I use it. I get about eight hours of battery. I’m having to pick when I sit in it, which is awful because the cold is making my back and my hips very sore.”
Ms Ward said she has been going to her brother and sister’s homes during the day to warm up, heat food and charge devices. She is a student at Galway Technical Institute but cannot attend as she is unable to charge her power wheelchair.
Ms Ward added that while her college has been understanding of her absence she was afraid she would “fall behind” as she has not been able to log in online to complete assignments.
“When I get home from my brother and sister’s I’m layered up in my pyjamas and jumpers and I have a hot water bottle that I use to warm up my back and my hip. Then I have three blankets on top of my duvet, layering up really.”
ESB Networks Powercheck service stated on Tuesday that Ms Ward’s home would have electricity again by 9pm on Wednesday. However, she said she is “not confident” as the estimation time has been pushed back four times already.
“There’s a tree that fell on our power line and wiring that came down from our house. That hasn’t even been assessed, so that will prolong getting our power back. I hope it [power] does [come back on Wednesday] but no one has been out to assess the tree so I’m kind of losing hope about it.”
Ms Ward added that she believed those with a disability, in particular wheelchair-users, had been forgotten about during and in the aftermath of the storm.
“I don’t think the Government prepared enough, especially for vulnerable people like myself. I do feel forgotten about. The West was one of the worst affected places, being a wheelchair-user and a vulnerable person at the same time on top of that, it’s very annoying ... We’re nearly two weeks without power.”
Around 25,000 homes, businesses and farms remained without power on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESB Networks. The utilities provider said “restoration work” is continuing, adding that some customers may see changes to their estimated return of power specifically in areas affected badly by electricity faults, including in the West and northwest.
Customers who remain without power will have their supply restored over the course of this week, a statement from ESB Networks said.
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