Fed-up residents have condemned the lack of response and help after Storm Goretti caused major power outages, fallen trees and water shortages. Pensioners were left without heating, lighting or working phones for almost five days as fallen trees blocked access roads. Elsewhere, graves were uprooted by fallen trees. It comes as about 17,000 properties in Kent and Sussex remain affected by major water outages, which South East Water blamed on Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts. Local Liberal Democrat councillor Juliet Line visited residents who were cut off, and tried to get the highways department to move fallen trees so the crisis could be fixed.

Source: Daily Mail January 14, 2026 18:03 UTC