Power restoration continues in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois

Crews continued to restore power Thursday to affected areas in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, as more severe weather could be on the way.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., continued to forecast a possibility of storms, bringing high winds and heavy rain, today into the weekend.

Black River Electric Coop said its crews had reduced the number of members without power to about 5,800 by Thursday morning. Black River spokesman John Singleton said on the company's website that 520 utility personnel continue to restore power.

Black River crews managed to get power restored to between 600 to 800 customers Thursday.

"As the repair process continues, people are developing a sense of how extensive the damage is and how massive the restoration effort has grown," Singleton said. "Until now, the ice storm of February 2008 was the worst damage Black River Electric Coop had experienced."

Singleton said just more than 100 poles were lost during the February 2008 ice storm. He said about 1,500 were broken during this week's storm, making it by far was the worst storm in the coop's history.

Citizens Electric Coop reported 427 of its members remained without electricity as of 8:30 a.m. Thursday, down from 680 Wednesday morning. As many as 10,000 members were without power at one time last weekend.

Spokeswoman Barb Casper estimates more than 280 poles were damaged or broken as a result of Friday's storm. She said crews from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri have assisted with equipment and manpower. Casper said restoration efforts could extend through the weekend if rain falls as predicted.

AmerenUE reported that 3,944 customers in Missouri were without power as of 9:50 p.m. Thursday. A single outage was reported in Cape Girardeau County.

Ameren Illinois Utilities said that it had restored power to 60,000 homes and businesses by midnight Wednesday. About 149 of its customers in Illinois did not have power around 10 p.m. Thursday, including one outage in Alexander County.

The American Red Cross continues operating two shelters and eight feeding stations in Southern Illinois. The Red Cross served 5,000 meals Wednesday. Shelters are at the Bush Community Center and Church of God in Marion. Feeding stations are at Lakeland Baptist Church in Carbondale, Murphysboro Middle School, Marion Pavilion, United Methodist Church in Herrin, Johnston City Fire Department, Carterville Food Pantry and Bush Fire Department.

The Red Cross also is operating a shelter at the Perryville United Methodist Church.

For relief assistance, residents are asked to call 335-9471.

National Weather Service meteorologist David Blanchard said the only reported damage in Southeast Missouri associated with rain and lightning Wednesday night and Thursday morning was in Neelyville, where two trees were knocked over, shingles were torn off homes and a shed was destroyed.

Blanchard said a cold front is expected to move through the region Saturday night, bringing of up to two inches of rain, though severe weather is not expected.

Staff writer Bridget DiCosmo contributed to this report.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

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Pertinent addresses:

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Ste Genevieve, MO