Flood-hit streets have been swept by Scots cops as part of an exercise with the Coastguard while extreme weather continues to bring chaos and halt travel across the country.
It comes after emergency services were called to the River Don in Inverurie in Aberdeenshire after a woman was reportedly swept into the water as she tried to rescue a dog on Friday afternoon. Heavy rain battered much of the east of Scotland, with several severe flood warnings issued.
Rail services in some of worst affected places were unable to run, with operator ScotRail saying the "extreme rainfall" means it is "unlikely" trains in some areas will restart before 12pm on Saturday. The firm said in a Tweet: "Due to yesterday’s extreme rainfall, services on the Fife Circle & between Aberdeen & Dundee are unlikely to start before noon today while Network Rail can assess the railway in daylight."
Torrential rain hit much of the north east of Scotland, with roads and rail travel impacted, schools closed and centres set up for those unable to stay in their homes. Tayside Police said this morning the A913 is currently closed between Newburgh and Abernethy due to flooding. Drivers are advised to avoid the area and find an alternative route.
It's understood officers from Police Scotland and the Coastguard undertook a 'Warn and Inform' exercise in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, focusing on the heavily impacted streets. This was following an announcement from SEPA that the water would continue to rise in the town until 6am on Saturday, and remaining at this very high level until this afternoon.
Homes in Brechin were evacuated with residents told to head to the local Community Campus last night. One resident, who lives on Nursery Park in the town, told the Record: "We had police at the door saying we should leave and go to the campus set up. I told them no, then went over and jumped up on the wall to have a look and the water was more or less at the top of a wall that was 7ft high.
"They think it might give in, so folk had to leave their houses with their duvet covers. Some belongings were already flooded at this stage."
Power cuts also affected areas including Kintore, Inverurie, Stonehaven, Portlethen and Hatton of Fintray, as the Met Office said over a month's rain had fallen in Charr in Aberdeenshire, with the total recorded as 140 millimetres.
There was localised flooding in some parts of Edinburgh, with pictures showing the Crewe Toll roundabout in the west of the city submerged. On Friday evening, justice secretary and lead minister for resilience, Keith Brown, chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government's resilience committee.
He said: "The Scottish Government's resilience arrangements have been activated to ensure preparations and appropriate measures are in place, and we will continue to monitor the situation over the course of the weekend.
"We are in close contact with resilience partners, local authorities and the emergency services to ensure people in the affected areas receive the latest information, advice and support where needed."
Officers said the search for the woman swept away on the River Don had resumed on Saturday morning.
Inspector Rory Campbell said: “Officers, along with colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Coastguard, have resumed searches in the area where the woman was last seen.
“Conditions are tricky and dangerous and I am appealing to members of the public to stay away from flooded areas. Please be careful when you are out and about.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
