
Our Isle of Man news team kept local people updated as the island was hit by record heavy winds during Storm Eowyn.
Through rolling website news updates and social media posts, Isle of Man Today colleagues provided information on the impact of Friday’s storm, which brought wind speeds recorded by the Met Office as reach 107mph in one part of the island.
Providing unrivalled reach in our papers and online, our Isle of Man titles are the trusted news source for the local community.
Editor Dion Jones and colleagues kept local people informed after a “major incident” was officially declared, sharing dramatic video footage as the storm buffered islanders.
The Isle of Man Today team updated web audiences on the damage, which came after the first Red Alert for bad weather on the island in seven years was issued in the build-up to the storm, which went on to see roads blocked by hundreds of trees being toppled.
Public warning
With shops and schools closed, the ferry service was halted, the airport was shut and people were warned to stay indoors.
Prior warning had been shared, with a special edition of the Isle of Man Today email newsletter sent out on Thursday night rounding up everything people needed to know.
On Friday, the Isle of Man Today website and social media accounts saw high levels of engagement as the news team shared a rolling blog on updates: Storm Eowyn LIVE updates as cleanup begins after day of weather chaos | iomtoday.co.im
The team reported how gusts of more than 100mph were recorded on Snaefell, while winds topped more than 80mph elsewhere bringing down countless trees and forcing many island roads to be blocked.
Sharing valued public information, the news team produced a live list of shops, sites and services on the Isle of Man closed during the storm.
Service halted
The website also compiled social media posts from trusted news sources, such as the Isle of Man Packet service, which explained: “With average wave heights reaching a staggering seven meters – for context this is about four and a half times higher than the 1.5m on a normal day’s sailing and about the same height as a two storey house – it’s not a day to be out on the Irish Sea.”
The journalists also published updates on the power outages experienced and key road closures.
A roof was ripped off a house in Kirk Michael and mobile phone users lost coverage from the Sure service.
As the storm began to quieten, Isle of Man Today shared key official information such as the continued cessation of the bus service on Friday and the impact through to Monday.
Editor Dion Jones said: “For the first time in seven years, a red weather warning was issued on the island.
Situation escalated
“The situation escalated on Friday when a major incident was declared by the government, as emergency services were stretched to their limits.
“Media Isle of Man played a vital role in keeping the island informed before, during, and after Storm Eowyn caused widespread damage.
“Our reporters worked tirelessly, starting early on Thursday and continuing late into Friday, to ensure everyone on the Isle of Man received the most up-to-date news and critical information.
“Our comprehensive coverage, which included breaking news alerts, weather warnings, and community impact stories, provided essential guidance to residents and visitors alike.
“The team rose to the challenge by delivering live news when it mattered most, and we continued to expand on that effort with full print coverage in the Isle of Man Examiner which was published the following Tuesday.
“We are proud to have upheld our long-standing heritage as the Island’s trusted news source, serving as a reliable lifeline for our community during this challenging time.”