JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Ameren Missouri power company expects to restore electricity to all of Jefferson City, Missouri, by Saturday afternoon and to Eldon by Friday night.
A tornado touched down in each city late Wednesday evening, destroying roughly 200 power poles, and causing 16,000 customers to lose electricity between the two cities. By Friday morning, Ameren said the number of customers without power was fewer than 3,000.
Chip Webb, the Ameren division director in Jefferson City, said the power company brought in 50 extra workers Friday for a total of 300 crew members between Jefferson City and Eldon.
Webb said the difference between this tornado and others is that this one hit his hometown of Jefferson City.
“I know the people who live here, I know the people who own these businesses,” Webb said. “It is kind of heart wrenching to deal with it at your own home.”
Ameren developed a drone department nearly two years ago. It used camera-equipped drones in Jefferson City to more efficiently assess damage. The drone footage gives crew members a fuller picture of every angle of the pole. The department can then develop a plan to restore power as quickly as possible.
Spoke with @AmerenMissouri about how it used #drones in #JeffersonCity after a #tornado tode through the city. The cameras on drones allow them to more efficiently gather a full picture of damage to power poles. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/1N7EgI5m1N
— Charlie Keegan (@CharlieKeegan41) May 24, 2019
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