[LeArc] Update: Current Power Outage in MO and IL

[Duane Whittingham]

More than 95,000 people remained without power in Missouri and 
Illinois Wednesday, now almost a week after a strong winter storm 
blew through the region.

Officials from the power company Ameren say they have thousands of 
workers on the job, but it will still take time to complete all the 
repairs stretching from eastern Missouri up into central Illinois. At 
one point during the storm, more than 500,000 people were without power.

Last week's winter storm claimed 11 lives in Missouri, and another 
five deaths are being investigated as caused by the cold weather.

According to a Missouri Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) news 
release, "officials expressed major concern about citizens using 
alternate heating sources not designed for indoor use. Numerous 
people have died or have been hospitalized, as a result of carbon 
monoxide poisoning. Local fire and health officials, as well as 
retailers selling alternate heating sources, are encouraged to remind 
people about safe practices to heat their homes in the event of a power loss."

St. Louis hospitals report treating more than 50 cases of 
hypothermia. There are also reports of carbon monoxide poisoning in 
both states. Shelters and warming centers remain open in some 
Missouri and Illinois counties.

The winter storm that hit last Thursday and Friday dropped more than 
a foot of snow in some parts of Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and 
Texas. Across all the affected states, officials are reporting a 
total of 19 dead due to the storms.

The state has also supplied affected nursing home facilities with 
generators and distributed emergency supplies such as blankets and 
food to other sites.

Posted December 6, 2006 12:46 PM


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Amateur Radio Operator
Duane Whittingham - N9SSN
Skywarn, ARES/RACES, EMA/ESDA
Red Cross Volunteer & SATERN Member