Power restored to 70 percent of Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston Board of Municipal Utility workers continue to log long days in their efforts to restore electricity to the city.

BMU General Manager Ed Throop said Thursday afternoon about 70 percent of the city had electrical power. Throop asked residents without power to please be patient.

Most AmerenUE customers have had their power restored. Company officials said customers who do not have electricity should call 1-800-552-7583.

About 3,700 SEMO Electric Cooperative customers were still without power early today, according to communications director Glen Cantrell.

"We have 109 crews here right now from all over -- Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Our estimates are about 5,000 poles are still either lying on the ground or need to be replaced," Cantrell said.

Cantrell said barring any bad weather, 90 percent of customers should have power restored by the end of business Wednesday. By the end of business the following Wednesday, he anticipates all customers will have electricity, he said.

"Most of the customers in the 10 percent will be in the southern county areas, southwest of Sikeston," Cantrell said. "South of Highway 114 and west of 153 was the hardest hit area."

Cantrell said updates about power restoration along with answers to rumors and frequently asked questions are addressed on SEMO Electric's website.