Outages persist in Butler, Stoddard counties

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff Municipal Utilities restored power to around 600 customers Thursday, but 1,600 were still without power this morning, according to General Manager Bill Bach.

At least 200 customers will be out for an extended period until electricians can fix problems at their houses. Municipal Utilities has designated two crews to restore power to these homes as soon as the electricians complete their work.

Ozark Border Electric Cooperative had 28,000 customers out at the peak of the ice storm, according to General Manager Stan Estes. Most of the outages were caused when Ozark Border's power supplier, M&A Electric Power Cooperative, lost transmission lines serving 16 substations. Twelve have been re-energized. The number of outages had been reduced to 17,000 by Thursday morning.

"We think we are down to about 6,000 today, but the last ones will be the toughest to get on," Estes said.

He commended the work of 38 Ozark Border linemen, 57 other Ozark Border employees, 56 linemen from other electric cooperatives, 40 private contractor linemen and 18 tree service crews.

"The Naylor substation is back on. We are working to restore the Naylor customers today," Estes said. He hopes the Broseley and Qulin substations can be restored within two days, but it will "quite a bit longer" before the Campbell and Malden substations are operational.

"There was major transmission line damage. Seven structures going to Campbell were damaged when a train hit a downed transmission line," Estes said.

As crews reach more areas, Estes has doubled the number of broken poles.

"We think we have lost about 1,000 poles," Estes said today.

He appreciates the help and patience of the cooperative's members.

"We feel so fortunate to have so many back on so quickly. It's only by the grace of God that this has been done safely," Estes said.

AmerenUE reported 27 percent of its Dexter customers had power at 7:20 a.m. today, but 4,273 are still out. Bernie, Essex, Gideon, Holcomb, Clarkton and Matthews are among the communities still in the dark.

Power was restored to 4,917 Ameren customers Thursday, but 29,219 were still waiting this morning, including 5,758 in Stoddard County and 1,080 in Dunklin County.

SEMO Electric Cooperative, which covers Bloomfield, Advance and rural areas is eastern Stoddard County, reported the number of outages had been reduced from 14,000 to 11,000 Thursday night.

Meanwhile, warming shelters throughout Southeast Missouri are filled with residents who have no heat in their homes due to the power outages. Others are staying with relatives or friends or in hotels.

Nearly 500 have been staying at the Black River Coliseum. Meals are being prepared by the United Gospel Rescue Mission.

"We are providing about 1,500 meals daily," Pastor Greg Kirk, director of the mission, said today. Donations of canned foods, meat and cash are appreciated so the mission can continue to feed everyone in the shelter.

Clint Johnston, an assistant superintendent in the Poplar Bluff School District, told the American Red Cross that the district's food inventory is available to help bridge gap between the donated food and the needed amount. Food Service Director Paul Stolle is coordinating this effort with the rescue mission.

The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency and Anheuser-Busch arranged for 2,156 12-ounce cans of drinking water to be delivered to the coliseum Thursday evening, according to Chris Shrum, general manager of Luecke Distributing Co. of Poplar Bluff, who coordinated the delivery.

Additional information about disaster relief for Butler County residents was released this morning by the Poplar Bluff Police Department and Butler County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

The Missouri National Guard started in the Neelyville and Qulin areas today to do wellness checks and determine transportation needs. Then they will proceed to the remainder of the county. AmeriCorps volunteers will provide the same services in Poplar Bluff.

Deputy Police Chief Jeff Rolland announced the Northside Nutrition Center will be back in operation by midafternoon.

Power has been restored for sewer and water services in Fisk where residents are encouraged to boil water, according to Rolland.

"Generators for the Butler County water districts have arrived and arrangements are being made to install them today," Rolland said. Bottled water will be available in the afternoon today at the coliseum.

Any special needs, handicapped or elderly person needing help with debris removal may call AmeriCorps at 686-8035. Anyone needing food or water also may call 686-8035.

Butler County Presiding Commission Ed Strenfel said county highway employees are "working as fast as they can" to make an emergency path through all the downed trees and limbs so residents can get in and out.

"Then they will go back and do blading," Strenfel said.

If residents cannot get out, they can call the disaster communications center at 686-8686.