For immediate release

Jan. 27, 2009 — 3:30 p.m.

Ice storm targets Bootheel, Ozarks

View the latest information about Missouri co-op systems affected by winter storms.

While most of the state dodged the proverbial bullet, electric co-ops in southeast Missouri suffered large numbers of outages the past 36 hours as a winter ice storm hit the region. SEMO, Pemiscot-Dunklin and Ozark Border electric cooperatives were the hardest hit, with SEMO and Ozark Border suffering 2,500 to 3,000 outages and Pemiscot-Dunklin hit with 1,000 in the wake of the storm’s first round.

The storm blanketed south-central Missouri with ice, but both White River Valley and Howell-Oregon lines initially were able to stand up to the inch or so of ice that fell, with Howell-Oregon sustaining about 200 outages. As a second round moved through the area, however, conditions went downhill fast as the additional ice proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

White River Valley quickly saw 1,950 members without power, while Howell-Oregon had as many as 1,600 out. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 6,000 SEMO members were without power. Ozark Border and Pemiscot-Dunklin also saw their outage numbers go up as the heavy ice caused rows of poles to fall.

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperative’s emergency assistance program was called on to send crews to SEMO, Ozark Border, Pemiscot-Dunklin and Howell-Oregon. Citizens, Three Rivers, Boone, Crawford, Laclede, Gascosage, Ozark and Webster all responded with crews and equipment.

  -30-

Editor's Note: For media inquiries, contact Jim McCarty at 573-680-2451