05/10/2009 UPDATE: 30,000+ restored in 48 hours (VIDEO)
With more than 1,500 workers, the Ameren Illinois Utilities have restored more than 30,000 customers in nearly 48 hours. Some major restorations include many homes and business, including Carrier Mills Nursing & Rehabilitation, Marion Water Plant, Ridgway Manor, Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado , Pepsi MidAmerica in Marion, Fountainview Nursing Home in Eldorado, Illinois Centre Mall in Marion , VA Hospital in Marion, Herrin Hospital, Carbondale Memorial Hospital, various gas stations and restaurants.
In addition, AIU has established a new central crew and material staging area in Carbondale. A Storm Trailer is being moved from Murphysboro to the new staging area. Storm Trailers are now located at Murphysboro, Sparta and two in Marion. The Storm Trailers are mobile storerooms, stocked with the material field crews need to get the lights back on. The trailers are moved to central staging sites to provide essential materials in the areas with the greatest damage.
To further facilitate the restoration work, AIU has established a base camp in Marion to provide a centralized location to provide meals for personnel. Because of the shortage of motel rooms, the base camp also has trailers that can sleep about 200 AIU workers.
