Cleanup continues in Caruthersville area

~ Officials hoped a lack of electricity and clean water would be resolved by the weekend.

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- Many issues plaguing Caruthersville since a tornado devastated half the town, including lack of electricity and clean water, were hoped to be resolved by the weekend, officials said Thursday.

As of Thursday, the city's sewers were up and running, and initial testing of tap water indicated a city-wide boil order may be lifted as early as today or Saturday, according to city attorney Lawrence Dorroh.

In the area, 1,500 AmerenUE customers were without power Thursday afternoon, with 1,200 in Caruthersville, the utility company's Web site stated.

AmerenUE has brought in 400 additional personnel into the affected region to assist with restoring power, utility spokesman Mike Cleary said. He said officials hoped work would be completed by late tonight or Saturday, but an estimated 300 to 500 homes in the area were too damaged to have power returned.

Electricity restoration also depends on any damage that might come from storms Thursday night or today.

"Things are improving," Dorroh said. "But there's still a long way to go."

FEMA arrives

Late Tuesday, President George W. Bush declared Pemiscot County a disaster area, and on Thursday crews from the Federal Emergency Management Agency traveled around Caruthersville, providing information to residents on how to apply for federal assistance, Dorroh said.

Anyone seeking help can call (800) 621-FEMA.

According to Thursday'sdamage assessment for Caruthersville, 205 single-family homes were destroyed, 202 sustained major damage and 219 had minor damage. There were eight businesses with major damage and 17 with minor damage, the report from the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency stated.

The Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation Coalition, made up of volunteer engineers and architects, inspected 147 structures in Pemiscot County and determined their habitability, according to the report.

Repairing structures

At some point in the future, the city will work with property owners to determine what to do with heavily damaged structures, Dorroh said. He stressed there was no intention on behalf of the city to bulldoze any private building without first speaking with the owner.

Caruthersville would also be helped financially from the federal government. "We'll get substantial funding for the cleanup effort," Dorroh said, adding about 75 percent of the costs would be provided federally.

Gov. Matt Blunt toured the town Thursday, and SEMA was expected to pick up some of the costs not covered by FEMA, Dorroh said.

Reopening classes

Classes in Caruthersville were expected to reopen following their spring break next week, Dorroh said. The high school and middle schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year.

The students in the schools will likely attend classes at the elementary school in the afternoon and evening, with the elementary school's pupils having half days, Dorroh said.

A school board official could not be reached for comment.

In Cape Girardeau, American Red Cross officials for the local chapter held an emergency meeting Thursday on how they would raise more funds for Caruthersville relief. Anyone wishing to donate should call (800) HELP-NOW.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127