55 Ameren Linemen in Du Quoin
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Fifty-five Ameren linemen are in Du Quoin today to reconnect neighborhoods to the local power grid, Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris told the Du Quoin Evening Call at 7 a.m. this morning.
He said a construction crew spent Wednesday reconstructing two 69,000 volt transmission lines west of Du Quoin that feed the city. As that work went on, a convoy of Ameren line trucks began pulling into Du Quoin to rebuild downed poles and lines in many neighborhoods.
Morris said the crews found as they began to send power back onto the grid in many neighborhoods there were dozens of unseen problems that had to be dealt with. Some neighborhoods saw power being restored for an hour or two. Then, linemen had to cut power again as new problems developed.
Fallen trees tore through two, four and six power poles at a time, which all have to be replaced and lines re-strung. Tuesday's storm was as strong or stronger than the "inland hurricane" that hit areas to the south of us two years ago.
Morris said a parking lot at the Du Quoin State fairgrounds was being used today as a staging area to plan remaining construction work in the area. Ameren linemen will continue to work day and night until that work is completed. Morris said as of this morning, some 3,000 of the city's 4,800 customers were without power, but restoration of service should speed up as the day wears on.
Local residents traveling the neighborhoods to see the damage should steer clear of these line crews. They need to be left alone.
Perry County Emergency Management director David Searby said because of countywide emergency declaration, all of the county's heavy equipment is being put at Du Quoin and Pinckneyville's disposal. No fewer than eight backhoes and nearly a dozen very heavy dump trucks were working all across Du Quoin and Pinckneyville to clear debris.
Inmates from the state's boot camp worked throughout the day to clear sticks and leaves from Keyes City Park after city workers cut apart several fallen trees and limbs on Wednesday.
It's Not Over Yet
Another storm front will move through Perry County beginning late Friday afternoon. "Tuesday's storm was driven by a cold front. This one will be driven by a warm front," said director Searby.
Power was restored to downtown Du Quoin and Rt. 51 south at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday night.
The Du Quoin Evening Call packed up equipment at its sister West Frankfort newspaper at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night and brought it all back to offices in Du Quoin to work on pages here this morning. Your patience is appreciated.