FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 6, 2025
SPRINGFIELD – More than 26,100 households in 15 southern Illinois counties are currently experiencing power outages, according to Monday morning updates received by State Sen. Dale Fowler of Harrisburg, State Rep. Patrick Windhorst of Metropolis, and State Rep. Paul Jacobs of Pomona from local and state agencies responding to Winter Storm Blair.
“This winter storm is causing problems on many fronts across southern Illinois, and we are working closely with State Emergency Agencies, Ameren, and the Governor’s Office to make sure that our counties have access to the information and the resources they need to protect our residents,” Fowler said. “I appreciate the timely response by local, business, and state leaders in response to our calls.”
The report notes that at 9:30 a.m., Monday, power outages by county include:
• Gallatin County: 1,931
• Saline County: 7,395
• Williamson County: 8,275
• Alexander County: 453
• Union County: 1,526
• Johnson County: 527
• Jackson County: 2,803
• Pope County: 174
• Washington County: 706
• Franklin County: 1,711
• White County: 339
• Hamilton County: 117
• Pulaski County: 29
• Hardin County: 116
• Massac County: 1
The report states that the Illinois Commerce Commission is partnering with Ameren Illinois and local electric cooperatives to monitor and facilitate outage restoration efforts. Restoration crews, including contractor and forestry teams, are actively working to repair widespread outages caused by ice and wind. Mobile substations, pre-stocked storm trailers, and additional resources have been deployed to the hardest-hit regions to expedite restoration. Efforts remain focused on addressing critical infrastructure and areas with high concentrations of outages.
“I have talked with Ameren officials today and they are bringing in hundreds more linemen, and they will be establishing a staging site for their operations in Harrisburg,” Fowler said.
Rep. Windhorst says he is working with local and state emergency management officials to stay up to date on new developments.
“I want to thank the hard-working men and women of local emergency management agencies as well as Illinois Emergency Management Agency officials for coordinating the response to the ice storm that is impacting so many families in southern Illinois,” Windhorst said. “I am also grateful to linemen and first responders who are putting themselves in danger restoring power to the area and handling vehicle and property damage incidents. We will get through this together, and we will continue to keep our constituents apprised of emergency declarations and state storm response efforts.”
Rep. Jacobs says he has been in contact with local electricity companies and says the ice is making the job of restoring power very difficult in some areas.
“I know the linemen are out working hard, but they are encountering harsh conditions that have really deteriorated in the last 24 hours,” Jacobs said. “The low temperatures are a concern. We want people to use common sense and caution if they are out on the roadways, and we are so thankful for the emergency responders, our police, our emergency management people for their tireless efforts to keep people safe during this emergency.”
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