Ameren Missouri's Emergency Operations Center opened and quickly deployed approximately 375 crew members to begin restoration efforts following the overnight storm that raked the St. Louis region. Power has already been restored to approximately 27,000 of the 54,000 customers who were without power at the peak of outages.
High winds are blamed for most of the damage to transformers, broken poles and downed lines. Efforts are being made to restore other customers as quickly as possible. However, due to the extent of the storm damage and difficulty accessing some of the severely damaged areas because of road closures and flooding, additional time may be needed to make needed repairs. More storms are forecast and may cause new outages.
Resources from surrounding states have been brought in, including workers from Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Tennessee. Right now, 625 lineman, 110 field checkers and 325 tree trimmers are assigned to restoration efforts.
Ameren Missouri reminds customers that safety is the first and foremost concern. The most important safety rule is to stay clear of downed power lines and always call Ameren Missouri at 1-800-552-7583 if you see downed lines. Assume all downed power lines are energized. Stay inside, especially at night, because you may walk into an energized power line. Stay clear of brush, shrubs and downed trees that may hide downed lines.
While every effort is being made to restore power as quickly as possible, customers with special needs—including those with medical conditions, seniors, handicapped and others who are dependent on electric service—may wish to consider making alternative arrangements if outages in their areas continue.
Additional storm safety information is available on the Storm Center pages on AmerenMissouri.com.
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Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than a century, and our electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. We serve 1.2 million electric and 126,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. Our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers 63 counties and more than 500 towns, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit AmerenMissouri.com.
Contact: Media Hotline, 314.554.2182