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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, July 23, 2006
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JULY 22 - Electrical and telephone lines, which were hanging across the north and south lanes of Broadway near Park Avenue after massive storms moved through downtown St. Louis around 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, were hit by a southbound boxtruck at 9 p.m., ripping off the top of the truck and snapping both poles in front of the Broadway Truck Centers complex. On Saturday, Broadway and 7th Streets remain blocked off just north of Soulard Market.
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St. Louis Area Experiences Record Power Outages
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), July 23, 2006 - Since the evening of July 21, Ameren companies have restored approximately 175,000 Metro St. Louis and Illinois customers affected by the devastating July 19 and July 21 storms - 305,000 remain without power in the Metro area.
Given the nature of the damage and the 200,000 outages that resulted from a fierce July 21 storm, company officials' initial 3 to 5 day restoration estimate could stretch to a day or two longer.
In a statement to the press Sunday morning, AmerenUE spokeperson Susan Gallagher said that they had never experienced anything quite this dramatic. "It's something that we'll certainly learn from. Our crews are working very hard to restore power. We now have more than 3,950 people on the streets, which is double what we had three days ago," said Gallagher.
These workers are not only from across Missouri and Illinois, but also from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee to help restore power.
Given the nature of the damage and the 200,000 outages that resulted from a fierce July 21 storm, company officials' initial 3 to 5 day restoration estimate could stretch to a day or two longer.
Company officials are urging customers to avoid downed power lines. Customers who see a fallen or sagging wire should assume that it is still energized and dangerous. Electric power lines can carry power even after being knocked to the ground. Citizens should stay away from these lines and warn others to do the same.
For those who can access it, Ameren's Web site - www.ameren.com - offers a range of information on our restoration process, preparation for outages, ways to keep cool and techniques for conserving energy use.
That Web site also provides information on the number of outages in each ZIP code and across Ameren companies service area. However, customers have been asked to exit that site as soon as they have retrieved their information so that others can visit the site. The site has at times been overloaded with the enormous number of visitors attempting to access outage information over the past few days.
"We have called out all Ameren company crews, available contractor crews and are requesting assistance from utility companies across a nine-state area. We do appreciate our customers' patience during this critical time," said Richard Mark, senior vice president, AmerenUE Missouri Energy Delivery. "We are working closely with city and state officials and emergency response personnel to coordinate restoration efforts and ensure customer safety. Work will be continuing around the clock."
Because the most recent storm caused some overloading on telecommunications lines serving the 314-342-1000 and 314-342-1111 customer contact numbers, customers are asked to use the toll-free number: 1-800-552-7583 - regardless of their locations.
Call 1-800-427-4626, the United Way of Greater St. Louis Information & Referral Services, to locate a cooling site, air conditioners, & assistance with heat-related problems.
Nixon Warns Against Price Gouging in Wake of Storms
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), July 23, 2006 - Attorney General Jay Nixon has said he will not tolerate price gouging of Missourians in areas hit hard by Wednesday's storms. Nixon's office is looking into complaints from the St. Louis area about price gouging of hotel rooms, ice and bottled water.
"At a time when several hundred thousand Missourians are without power and suffering from the summer heat, it is reprehensible that anyone would try to exploit them by charging outrageous prices for necessities," Nixon said in a statement. "We will look into any and all reports we receive of price gouging and take appropriate action."
To report price gouging to the Attorney General's Office, submit a complaint form online or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.
Those who violate the price-gouging provisions can face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation under Missouri consumer protection laws. Nixon took action against eight gas stations in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and against 48 stations in 2001 after Sept. 11 over allegations of price gouging. The stations paid almost $69,000 total to the state as a result of Nixon'sinvestigation.
Nixon also said to watch out for scam artists. Nixon says thieves known as "storm chasers" target hard-hit areas claiming to offer home-repair services. He says storm chasers often go door-to-door, offering quick services for consumers who may be in urgent need of repairs, whether it's a new roof, windows, siding or other work.
"Storm chasers are predictable creatures," Nixon said. "Consumers need to know there are people out there who want to take advantage of their misfortune by promising services, collecting money and not following through on the job."
Nixon says consumers should be suspicious of anyone who:
- Offers services door-to-door;
- Drives an unmarked vehicle or has out-of-state plates;
- Demands full payment in advance;
- Has no address, just a phone or P.O. Box;
- Uses a high-pressure sales technique; or
- Has no I.D.
Nixon says consumers should follow these suggestions when hiring a home-repair company:
- Hire known or recommended companies. Check for complaints against a company through the St. Louis-area Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General's Consumer Complaint Hotline (number below);
- Check the credentials of companies: verify their numbers and addresses in the phone book, check for county or other local permits, and ask if they are licensed, bonded and insured;
- Get at least two estimates and a third if possible;
- Get all agreements in writing, including description of the job, completion dates and price; and
- Make full payment only when the terms of the contract are met.
Nixon's office has already received more than 700 consumer complaints on home repair in 2006. The office took nearly 1,200 complaints in 2005. Home repair is often one of the top complaint categories reported to the Attorney General. Consumers can report fraud by filing a complaint online with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by visiting www.ago.mo.gov or by calling 1-800-392-8222.
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