07/24/10 - 07:30 - Service Outages in Kewanee, La Salle Areas
Restoration Efforts Underway
Ameren Illinois has assigned more than 150 field and support personnel to restore electricity service to about 5,100 customers in the Kewanee and La Salle areas.
Late Friday afternoon, severe storms with high winds caused extensive damage to the Ameren Illinois electricity distribution system - including downed poles and wires - in portions of Henry, Bureau and La Salle Counties.
In response to this significant challenge, Ameren Illinois activated the Emergency Operations Center to direct the service restoration effort.
Ameren Illinois estimates that most Kewanee area customers will have their electricity service restored by 4:00 pm today. In the La Salle area, the majority of customers are expected to have their service restored by 8:00 pm with the remainder restored by midnight.
However, additional storms today could slow the restoration efforts or cause new service outages. Heavy early morning rain today was making service restoration work more difficult and dangerous.
Ameren Illinois officials issued a safety warning to all residents in the impacted areas to be on alert for downed wires. Furthermore, stay away from brush, downed trees and limbs and any debris that may conceal downed power lines.
If you see fallen or sagging wire, assume that it is still energized and dangerous. Stay away and warn others. Call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000. Outage information is available at IllinoisOutage.com and readers can find outage information by zip code and by county.
Emergency Event 20100723AIU
