St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ST. LOUIS — Last week’s ice storm continued to cause problems across southern Missouri on Sunday, where 54,000 homes and businesses were without power and nearly 1,500 people remained in shelters.
The storm Tuesday knocked out power to about 125,000 homes and businesses and has been blamed for six weather-related deaths across the state.
The Missouri Emergency Management Agency reported Sunday that power remained out in some cities - Thayer, in Oregon County, for example, had only 10 percent of its power restored and was under a boil order. New Madrid County, outside of the city of New Madrid, remained nearly 100 percent without power.
In Sikeston, 65 percent of residential power was out and several residents had been treated for carbon monoxide exposure and injuries suffered while clearing debris. An aerial survey showed some industrial and agricultural buildings had collapsed. Across Scott County, where 65 percent of the power was out, officials said they were concerned about price gouging for kerosene and tree removal services.
Also, on Sunday, emergency room doctors, paramedics and nurses with the Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team were heading to Sikeston to help out at the Missouri Delta Medical Center.
In Stoddard County, about 35 percent of the county remained without power. Bernie, Essex and Gray Ridge remained without power, but power was back on in Bell City. Water and meals were being distributed to residents, and a generator was needed as a backup for one of the water districts. Missouri Department of Conservation crews and bulldozers were assisting with the clearing of debris.
In Carter County, officials estimated 1,000 rural residents were without power and many county roads remained impassable. Food was being delivered to people in shelters and around the county. Medical shut-ins and elderly residents who had called about getting oxygen tanks restocked were being helped.
In communities across the southern part of the state, the Missouri National Guard, activated by Gov. Jay Nixon, was going door-to-door checking on residents, clearing snow and ice and cleaning up debris.
AmerenUE estimated that storms downed at least 16,000 power poles and hundreds of lines in the Bootheel region. It reported ice deposits of 2 inches in some places. As of Sunday afternoon, AmerenUE said about 1,600 power poles remained down. About 4,000 workers were involved in power restoration work.