Storm brings power outages, closes roads in Mo.

ST. LOUIS -- National Guard Troops and heavy vehicles were scheduled to arrive Friday afternoon in St. Louis County and city after Gov. Matt Blunt directed state aid there after Thursday night's severe snow storm. Snow and ice blanketed much of the state, knocking out power to thousands of residents and causing at least two road deaths.

Earlier Friday Blunt issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency statewide in response to heavy precipitation, white-out conditions, high winds and ice that have affected communities throughout Missouri. The order also activated the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan and directs state agencies to provide support in affected areas as needed.

"We are working hand in hand with local officials to provide access to state resources as they work through the aftermath of this winter storm," Blunt said Friday in a written release. "The men and women of our National Guard will continue to arrive through the night and provide whatever assistance is needed."

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay requested the state's help to address power outages, freezing temperatures, health, medical and safety needs as well as shelter provisions.

Blunt has deployed 30 humvees and a number of 2 1/2- and 5-ton trucks. Thirty Guard members were scheduled to arrive in the St. Louis area by late afternoon, with an additional 50 to 60 more expected in Festus, Farmington and Desoto areas.

Two hundred more have been activated, expected to arrive overnight Friday and into the morning and will be in place by 8 a.m. today. They will be disbursed throughout the city and county as directed by local officials.

In addition, the state has allotted eight generators to provide power to help heat select public buildings and warming sites.

Cape Girardeau guardsmen are standing ready to assist if called to do so, said Capt. Richard Tipton from the city headquarters of the 1140th Engineer Battalion Friday.

"We have drill this weekend and we have made some calls to standby," Tipton said. "If activated, they'll be able to come in right away."

Tipton said guardsmen have been called to standby as a precautionary measure and have an operating center in Farmington monitoring the status of personnel along with a liaison officer to assist the community.

Extensive assistance

Blunt has offered extensive state assistance to communities recovering from severe winter weather including Guard support, access to state facilities and power generators. The assistance will be available only in those communities whose officials request state aid and will be distributed based on the state's emergency operations plan. Local communities in need of state assistance can contact the State Emergency Management Joint Operations Center. The state operations center then coordinates the response.

Roughly 280,000 St, Louis-area customers of Ameren Corp. remained without power Friday afternoon, spokesman Brian Hauswirth said.

Ron Zdellar, Ameren vice president, said roughly 1,200 employees are working to restore power but acknowledged it would be days before all customers have electricity again.

Snow amounts varied around the state, but mid-Missouri was hit hardest, with more than a foot in several locations. In the St. Louis area, snowfall amounts ranged generally from 2 inches to 6 inches -- but the storm was made worse by sleet and freezing rain that fell most of Thursday before the snow began.

Snowfall totals varied widely in western Missouri, from just a trace at Kansas City International Airport to 16 inches at Sedalia and 18 inches at Butler.

Staff writer C. M. Schmidlkofer contributed to this report.