Building Industry Comes Together to Support Island Community After Storm Goretti
January 27, 2026 | News | By Dalen Vile
The Channel Islands were recently impacted by Storm Goretti, with winds exceeding 90 miles per hour causing widespread disruption and damage across Guernsey. While some properties escaped with relatively minor issues, many homeowners faced serious damage that required urgent repairs to make their homes safe and watertight.
In the days following the storm, the island saw an overwhelming response from local tradesmen who stepped up to support those affected. Roofers, builders, maintenance teams and landscapers worked long hours under pressure, responding to emergency call-outs and prioritising urgent repairs for families, elderly residents and vulnerable neighbours.
Social media quickly filled with messages of thanks from homeowners, highlighting the efforts of tradesmen who went out of their way to help — often fitting people in despite already heavy workloads, and in many cases carrying out temporary or preventative repairs to limit further damage ahead of additional bad weather.
This collective response demonstrated the strength of Guernsey’s building industry and the willingness of local businesses to support the community when it mattered most. Alongside the on-site work carried out by tradespeople, merchants and suppliers also played a supporting role, helping ensure materials were available so urgent repairs could continue in the days and weeks after the storm. Norman Piette and Annandale worked to remain flexible during this period, assisting customers and contractors wherever possible and staying open later, as recovery efforts continued.
John Bampkin, CEO of Norman Piette, said:
“What stood out after Storm Goretti was the way the whole community pulled together. Tradesmen were under huge pressure and still found time to help people in need, often at very short notice, while others worked behind the scenes to support that effort. It was a difficult period for many, but the response showed the strength of Guernsey’s local industry and the value of working together when it really matters.”
The aftermath of Storm Goretti highlighted the value of local skills, relationships and community spirit. From emergency roof repairs to temporary fixes that prevented further damage, the combined efforts of Guernsey’s tradespeople helped hundreds of residents begin the process of recovery during a challenging time.