Power Outages Sweep Across the Ozarks Following Severe Storms
As torrential rains destroyed the Ozarks, most of the counties in Missouri and Arkansas were plunged into darkness, beset with the havoc brought by the heavy rains and high winds. From initial reports, it can be observed that these were not merely spring showers of the regular type this system was a step back for the townspeople in the region.
From Ozark Electric and AMEC, a number of counties in Missouri were severely affected, with each suffering some form of power outage. And just as the news varies from county to county, their comparison is the same one and the same storm outages and an unhealthy community for that matter.
In Missouri, Taney County was hit the worst with 939 in the dark. Douglas County came in second closely with 703 homes and businesses in the dark. Wright County had 447 outages, and Morgan County wasn’t far behind with 311 in the dark.
Other counties received their share of the hit as well:
- Camden County: 223 affected
- Texas County: 280 affected
- Miller County: 127 affected
- Cedar County: 114 affected
- Dallas County: 63 affected
- Oregon County: 61 impacted
- Stone County: 71 affected
- St. Clair County: 92 affected
- Barry County: 19 affected
- Polk County: 35 affected
Even when the numbers themselves seem minimal in some of the counties, each outage is uncertainty to families struggling to keep the lights on, businesses struggling to remain afloat, and first responders struggling to preserve the balance between crisis communications and public safety.
The Timing and Impact of the Storm
The storm couldn’t have occurred at a more opportune moment. With wind and rain, the storm pounded hard at dawn and lasted well through the evening. Most of the neighborhoods had to struggle with alternative sources of light and heat, particularly in the rural Ozarks where it may take some time to restore electricity because of rolling terrain and remote locations for repairmen.
Just a little further down the road in Arkansas, it was not quite as different either. Washington County set a record of its own with outages at 3:30 p.m. on Easter Sunday. A high of more than 2,000 Ozarks Electric Cooperative customers were in the dark. Thankfully, the number was reduced to about 576 at 3:50 p.m. yep, a brief reprive. But while Washington County was being relieved, other areas like Madison County were also suffering from outages. Safety First
Neighbors living in areas impacted by the hurricane are also being asked by officials to avoid unnecessary risk, particularly laboring with storm damage. One of the large billboards: avoid down wires. The wires are likely to be live and extremely dangerous. Utilities and authorities are negotiating room and time space within to move in and rip out and restore the damage but in the process require room and elbow room where they can safely do so.
Low-lying areas and washed roads are also vulnerable, not just dangerous to vehicles but also to the repair and rescue team. Flash flood is always prepared whenever there are rain waves with heavy rains on the ground, wetting it and clogging nearby drains. At these times, a few inches of water can cause a car to be driven off the road or render roads impassable.
Response and Recovery
A number of the area power cooperatives and utilities have sent midnight crews to the region to try to restore service. Crews in the Douglas, Taney, and Wright areas are battling the conditions, driving bad roads, and doing whatever they can to cut corners in an attempt to get there as soon as possible.
But officials warn that normalcy will be resumed its sweet time i.e., more city-suburb type communities whose way will be impeded by downed trees, treacherous roadways, and more rain. They must wait patiently, remain well-informed, and not go out if possible.
As electricity begins returning to some areas, the storm system continues. The area is expected to see more rain in the next few hours, and that would make it even more difficult for repairmen and emergency personnel. Everyone is being asked to exercise caution, keep an eye on neighbors, and report unsafe conditions to local authorities.
As we’ve seen time and time again, the Ozarks are no stranger to wild weather but the community is equally known for its resilience. From volunteers offering warm meals to neighbors helping clear fallen branches, people in these counties always seem to find a way to come together when it matters most.
This story is still developing, and updates will continue to come in as more information becomes available. For now, those affected by outages are urged to stay indoors, conserve power where possible, and follow the guidance of local emergency services.
If you’re experiencing an outage or need to report a downed line, reach out to your local utility provider. Stay safe, Ozarks.
