THUNDERSTORMS PROVIDE BRIEF RELIEF

Thunderstorms Wednesday ripped through Southeast Missouri leaving behind a trail of heat and humidity.

The heat index after the rainfall was a cool 80, but later that afternoon the index in Southeast Missouri crept up to about the mid-90s.

"Based on overall weather patterns, the heat advisory is still in effect even though at the moment, it does not seem like we need it," said David Blanchard, a weather forecaster for the National Weather Service in Paducah.

He said that more than likely the rain will produce even more heat and humidity later on this week. Blanchard said the heat advisory takes into account the whole region and one thunderstorm is not enough to change the condition even though the weather may have cooled off some.

The best place to be in the coming days of hot weather is inside an air conditioned place. If people do not have air conditioning, the American Red Cross has set up heat shelters at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau and at the New McKendree United Methodist Fellowship Hall at 225 N. Main St. in Jackson. The shelters have been open almost three weeks and not one person has used them.

"We have people milling about all day long," said Penny Blandford, facility manager at the Osage Community Centre. "But no one has come in for that sole purpose."

There is a need for the shelters because this week alone, there have been 15 heat-related illnesses in Cape Girardeau County. There also has been one death in the area due to heat.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau Public Health Center, said one reason people may not be going to the shelters is that do not feel comfortable there.

"Maybe it is because their lazy boy chair isn't there for them to relax," Craig said. "They're stiff-back chairs and maybe that is the reason they go to the mall to people watch."

At the Jackson site, people can watch a big screen television or play ping pong while escaping the heat. But Mary Burton, executive director of the American Red Cross Cape Girardeau County Chapter, said providing recreational activities is not the most important consideration.

"We have to make sure that we give people the opportunity to get out of the heat if they do not have air conditioning," Burton said.

And people who are struggling with paying their electric bills will find some sympathy with their plight by simply contacting their electric company.

"Power companies do not normally cut people off in extreme heat," said Bill Washburn, manager of the electric department for the Missouri Power Service Commission.

Washburn said people have a misconception that in extreme weather they don't have to pay their bills. He said the cold weather rule forces power companies to work out a payment system for their customers, but people have to demonstrate some responsibility of their own. He said the utility companies will cut the power if customers do not make arrangements to pay their bills.

"If you can't pay it, you need to call your utility company and work something out," Washburn said.

In the Southeast Missouri area, AmerenUE, does not typically cut people off in extremely hot weather, but customers must make an effort to work out a payment schedule.

"When it gets extremely hot, we accommodate our customers during these times," said Doug Groesbeck, manager of the Southeast District of AmerenUE.