Highway 61 closed, other updates

A quick round up of what's available and what's happening:

On the road

Fallen power lines caused MoDOT to close Highway 61 at Highway 77 north, in the city of Benton. The road is expected to remain closed for at least three hours.

Dawayne Phoenix, dispatcher for Cape Girardeau Transit Authority is taking 60 to 70 calls an hour.

The county bus service is halted. Cape Girardeau Transit Authority cabs are making limited runs.

"We are doing medical and grocery only," he said.

The cabs will take people to warming centers.

"We're hauling people in Jackson, mostly to Immaculate Conception," he said.

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety warns drivers to use extreme caution. Black ice conditions exist on all primary and secondary roads and are causing "numerous accidents," according the city's statement.

"Any time that it is raining or misting, Missouri State Law requires the use of headlights. Citizens are encouraged to slow down, and drive as safely as conditions allow," the city statement read.

Roads that were salted and plowed by this morning have been mostly cleared of overnight debris, but branches continue to fall.

Food and warmth

Cafeterias at both Cape Girardeau hospitals are open.

Saint Francis Medical Center's cafeteria is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:05 p.m.

"We have a lot of people use our cafeteria, even when the weather isn't bad," said Emily Sikes, Saint Francis Medical Center spokeswoman.

Southeast Missouri Hospital's cafeteria is open to the public, 5 to 7:30 p.m. for dinner, 6 to 9 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. The hospital's full service restaurant is closed today.

Get a list of warming shelters.

"At 6 p.m., if electricity has not been restored, the Arena building and Immaculate Conception will turn into (overnight) shelters," said Cindy Underwood, American Red Cross liaison for Cape Girardeau County Emergency Operations Center. "But we will not be serving food there."

She said people can bring their own food to prepare sandwiches or other cold meals. No cooking facilities will be available.

Schnucks will put food in its cold locker for storage for people without power.

Hotels in Cape Girardeau are booked full. Hotels in other cities along Interstate 55 north and south of Cape Girardeau are also booked from Sikeston to Perryville.