Hundreds still need power in Jackson; Kirkwood sends help

An estimated 500 Jackson residents still do not have power. That's down from a peak of 6,250 who lost service after this week's ice storm.

City manager Jim Roach is visiting the hardest hit areas this afternoon to assess damage, said Mayor Barbara Lohr.

"We were able to get the main circuits back on Tuesday. That accounted for the bulk of our customers," she said. "Now, we'll have, like, one block that has a problem, or one customer. It's down to working with individuals, three at a time or one at a time. It's slow-going right now."

She said 250 more homes should have power by Friday, while the rest will get service back early next week.

Lohr's own home does not have power. Rather than stay at a shelter, she is home in the evenings and at city hall, where she recharges her cell phone, during the day.

The city's phone system is not working property. Power returned to the building on Tuesday but the phone system has not yet recovered. Callers most often get a busy signal or the phone rings without going through. When calls do get through the line, Lohr said, all the phones in city hall ring as once.

"We were just picking up like crazy," she said. "If you picked it up and it didn't have a dial tone, you answer (questions)."

The city's utility crews have help -- electric contractors, tree trimmers and others are working now and will continue through the weekend until service is completely restored.

Lohr said some cities have also sent work crews, including Kirkwood, Mo., where five city officials were killed in a gunman's rampage last week.

"I was especially impressed that, in light of their crisis, they would help us in our crisis," she said.

To get individual lines reconnected, call 243-2300 or 243-3568 to be put on a list.

The loss of power prevented the city's Web site from being immediately updated. However bulletins have been posted under "City News" on the home page, at jacksonmo.org.

Lohr is bundling up at home.

"I've got a fireplace and many of the folks are doing that and staying by the fire," she said.