Legislator highlights efforts to secure storm assistance
Local and state officials are working together to get help for those in Southern Illinois who were impacted by the severe winter storm which struck the region on Jan. 5.
“This winter storm has caused problems across Southern Illinois, and we are working closely with state emergency agencies and the governor’s office to get the information and the resources needed to help our residents,” State Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, said in a news release.
An update issued by Fowler on Monday, Jan. 6, reported that first responders were out in the 59th Senate District, another 150 trucks had arrived from neighboring states to work to restore power and he was working with the governor’s office and local officials on securing a state disaster declaration.
Fowler said that after a natural or man-made “disaster” event, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, IEMA, directs all parties to work through their local county emergency management office.
Paperwork, questions and other requirements all start in the local offices and flow up to IEMA.
Individuals with home or property damage are advised to start with private insurance coverage.
A state disaster proclamation is issued by the governor pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
A state disaster proclamation may cover one or more counties or the entire state.
The proclamation is in effect for up to 30 days, and the governor may issue additional proclamations for as long as the disaster conditions persist.
A state disaster proclamation authorizes the governor to exercise certain emergency powers to respond to the disaster.
A state disaster proclamation also authorizes the use of funds in the Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to pay for certain state-incurred disaster-related expenses.
Damage assessments are started at the outset of an event at the local level by local officials.
While there are no metrics or thresholds written in state law or rule, state assistance is based on requests from local governments to IEMA.
IEMA administers several funds where federal money passes through for assistance awards. A pamphlet is available at IEM Afor further resource information on the disaster process.
According to available information provided to Fowler on Jan. 7, approximately 68,500 customers had experienced a power outage since the start of the winter storm.
The peak number of outages – 30,204 customers – occurred at approximately 4:10 a.m. on Jan. 6.
By Jan. 6, crews had restored power to over 58,000 customers.
Outage counts climbed overnight Sunday, Jan. 5, as icy conditions made their way into the southern part of the Ameren Illinois service territory.
Ameren expected to see new outages as the weight of snow and ice continued to impact the electric distribution system.
Most outages were concentrated in Jackson, Williamson, Saline and Gallatin counties.
Roughly 1,100 resources (Ameren and contractors) were working on restoration in the region, including line workers, tree trimmers, damage assessors and safety/support personnel.
As of noon on Jan. 6:
Outages stood at fewer than 10,000. Outage counts change often during ice storms.
The Southern region experienced significant tree damage. Numerous utility poles and wires were brought down in the storm.
As of Jan. 6, 18 distribution poles remained down in the region and five substations remained offline.
Information about warming centers was available online at https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/dff7a457041b48f6add366ce4dc418b4.
External contractors were on standby in advance of the storm. Crews from five states – Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and Tennessee – helping, as well as resources from other utilities and private companies.
As of Jan. 6, based on weather conditions, it was estimated that 80 percent of utility customers would have power restored by 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
Impacted utility customers were to be informed of the estimated restoration window. Those who were signed up for alerts were to receive alert updates through their preferred channels. All others were to receive a phone call.