http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/916EBEC69E47CAD5862571B1000A7CE6?OpenDocument
Storms cut power, snap trees, topple trucks across region
POST-DISPATCH STAFF REPORTS
07/19/2006
A powerful summer storm slammed into the St. Louis area Wednesday evening, toppling buildings, street lights, tractor trailers and hundreds of trees.
At least 476,000 customers lost power, Metrolink was shut down and just one-third of flights were getting in and out of Lambert Field.
"This is one of the worst storms we can all remember to hit the city of St. Louis in recent years," St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said at a hurriedly called news conference.
The power outages will present a challenge to utility crews trying to get the power back on in temperatures expected to exceed 100 degrees today.
Until Wednesday, the two biggest storms to hit the area in the last few years were in July 2004, when about 225,000 lost power, and in August 2005, which affected about 250,000. It took AmerenUE crews four days to restore power to all customers in 2004 and five days in 2005.
The storm brewed quickly in central Illinois and swept southwest toward the St. Louis area shortly after 7 p.m. Meteorologists said the storm was unusual, not because of its path, but because a powerful "gust front" preceded the rain and thunder, causing damage from St. Charles County in the west to Madison County in the east, but hitting St. Louis and St. Louis County hardest.
Skies darkened with blowing dust, shingles flew from roofs, and windows were shattered, all before a drop of rain fell. Blowing dust and debris and then torrents of rain limited visibility on roads.
Westbound lanes of Highway 370 were shut down at the Discovery Bridge across the Missouri River because of at least two overturned tractor-trailers, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. In downtown St. Louis, part of the Switzer building near the Eads Bridge collapsed onto the bridge, trapping a driver - eight months pregnant - in her car for some time.
By noon today, airline travel had returned to normal at Lambert Field. Passengers whose luggage was stranded at the airport's Main Terminal because of the Wednesday night power outage returned to the baggage claim area to hunt for their bags.
Drivers heading east on I-70 near the airport could see camper shells strewn across the highway, twisted sheet metal wrapped around light posts and at least one burning building east of the airport.
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 270 near the Chain of Rocks Bridge were closed as emergency crews responded to three tractor-trailers that had flipped over, authorities said.
St. Mary's Health Center in Richmond Heights and Forest Park Hospital in St. Louis were operating on backup power systems Wednesday night.
In St. Louis
Windows in the old Dillards building at 7th Street and Washington Avenue in St. Louis were shattered, covering the streets with a layer of glass. At the Millennium Hotel, a window at Top of the River, the revolving restaurant at the top of the building, was blown out while guests dined.
No one was seriously injured, said Mark Diaz, the hotel's assistant general manager - "just minor, minor cuts."
Winds also shattered a skylight in the south tower, Diaz said. "We are just going to board everything up and get the repair crews out here tomorrow," he said.
At America's Center, bus driver Gaylon Parker, 60, stood huddled at a corner outdoors, watching the storm rip up part of the center's sign.
"This thing was fantastic," he said. "I never saw anything like it my life ... The buses were blowing back and forth."
Parker said he stayed outside during most of the storm to be "adventurous."
"We did finally go inside," he said.
At the Missouri Botanical Garden, hundreds of people who had been attending the Whitaker Music Festival free concert were moved to shelters at the Schoenfeld Auditorium. Damage from shattered glass was reported to the Linnean House, one of the nation's oldest continuously operating greenhouse conservatories. Trees were reported down at the Garden and in neighborhoods around it.
In parts of south St. Louis, trees and limbs almost covered the pavement for whole blocks south of Meramec Street. South of Interstate 55 and in the area around Carondelet Park, motorists had to weave around limbs and thick mats of branches.
Witnesses reported a driver trapped inside a car at Morganford and Arsenal streets. A building collapse at Sidney Street and Lemp Avenue injured two people inside. An empty building near Natural Bridge and Harris avenues also collapsed.
St. Louis officials urged residents to stay within their homes if possible as crews worked to clean up streets. Residents may report downed lines by calling 314-231-1212.
In St. Louis County
In the aftermath of one of the worst storms in recent memory, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley today issued an executive work order that will put county employees on the streets to help residents in unincorporated areas.
Officials estimate that more than 300,000 county residents were without power following the fierce windstorm that uprooted trees, busted car windows and knocked down power lines all over the St. Louis area.
Under Dooley's order, county employees will assist residents by removing trees and debris that is placed by the road. They will not go onto private property.
The county will also patrol streets, removing debris. Officials are also exploring the possibility of joining with area municipalities to speed the clean up.
Residents needing helps should call the county at 314-615-5000. Those seeking information about cooling stations should call the United Way hotline at 1-800-427-4626. Some area taxi companies have said they will take residents to approved United Way cooling stations for free.
In Bellefontaine Neighbors, 100-year-old trees were thrown down, said resident Stephanie Russell, an employee at St. Louis University.
"We had to use four-wheel-drive low just to get up the street," Russell said. "It was everything from water to debris to branches 5 feet to 20 feet long."
Russell said she eventually got to her driveway, but a fallen branch blocked her progress and then another fell behind her car.
"We can't get in or out," she said as neighbors worked to remove branches from the road. "... I've never seen anything like it."
Power went out during the Bridgeton City Council meeting, but the council continued its deliberations. By 8:30, the storm had left the North County area.
In north St. Louis County, the storm caused a gas leak in the 10000 block of Lord Drive. Authorities were evacuating the block, according to St. Louis County police.
Chairmaine Manse and Anna Hollins, customers at the St. Louis Bread Co. at Manchester and Interstate 270 were taken by surprise by the storm.
"It came up as a strong wind, knocking over umbrellas and tables," said Hollins, who lives in Normandy. "It got dark and all hell broke loose . . . I'm willing to go, but I'm not willing to chance it."
In Ladue, Elfriede Olney said at least two oak trees - one about 3 feet in diameter and one more than 50 feet tall - fell in her front yard.
"It's a total disaster area in the front," Olney said. "The driveways are blocked. I've never seen anything like this."
The Dierbergs store in Warson Woods stayed open by generator power and was doing a brisk business in batteries and ice.
In University City, William Conner, was outside late Wednesday night cleaning tree branches and other debris from his driveway. Storms have knocked out power in neighborhood at least a dozen times this year, he said.
"Here we go again," he said. "I hope I don't have to spend another night in the dark."
Kathleen Jensen, a dispatcher for Creve Coeur police, left her home in St. Clair in Franklin County about 8:45 p.m. to drive into St. Louis County to work. Trees were down and lights were out the entire way, but she was especially impressed with the number of road signs that were knocked over.
"We're talkin' the big, huge, green signs that are at the sides of the roads," she said.
In Normandy, neighbors were avoiding downed wires as they worked to clear roads and yards of debris.
The Hazelwood City Council met Wednesday night even though most of the city - including city hall - was without electricity.
"We have a power-point presentation, but no power," Mayor T.R. Carr quipped at one point. Members of the Hazelwood Police Explorer Post who had been meeting at city hall when the storm hit helped get a portable generator working in the council chamber so the meeting could go on.
In other areas
Storm damage knocked Washington State Park near De Soto out of commission.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources said the park will be closed temporarily after sustaining "significant" tree damage and loss of power. Without electricity - which may take up to four days to restore - the state can't operate the campground, swimming pool or cabins.
No other state parks were closed because of the storm damage, said state parks spokeswoman Sue Holst.
There was widespread property damage in the northeastern part of Madison County but no reports of storm-related injuries.
In Bethalto, fallen trees or limbs and damage to buildings or utility lines were evident in virtually every block. The entire village was without electricity and Mayor Steve Bryant said it could be two days or more before power is restored.
Bryant said the storm was the worst disaster in Bethalto since another windstorm in the late 1990s, but damages Wednesday were far greater.
The village opened two cooling centers this morning and Bryant said all the village's streets were cleared enough to allow traffic to pass after street crews worked through the night.
Bethalto's water treatment plant was operating with power from backup generators and there was no boil order but all water customers in Bethalto, Meadowbrook, Rosewood Heights, Cottage Hills, Moro and other outlying service areas were encouraged to conserve water.
Landmark United Pentecostal Church at 302 East Central Avenue in Bethalto was "pretty well totaled," said Pastor Mark Burk. The wind took the church's roof and collapsed large sections of its walls.
Built in the mid-19th century, the church building was one of Bethalto's oldest buildings, Burk said.
Three church members were inside for a Bible study class when the storm hit.
"They heard sirens and ran down in the basement," Burk said. He said another member arrived as the storm abated and led the three out of the basement.
Plans were unclear but Burk said the church will likely rebuild in Bethalto.
"We like the town," he said. "I think we'll stay here."
Most of Fairview Heights was without power as of late this morning, forcing St. Clair Square and other shopping center's in the Metro East's popular retail corridor, to remain closed.
As well, traffic signals along Illinois Route 159 and U.S. Route 50 were not working, forcing traffic snarls.
Police said that they do not have the manpower to direct traffic at the city's busy, multi-lane intersections and are relying on motorists to follow state law, which says vehicles must stop at signaled intersections, even when the traffic lights are not working.
In East St. Louis, power is out citywide, including at the Police Department. The 911 center, however, is still operating, as is the Casino Queen, which is using backup generators.
In St. Charles County, tree limbs were down, power was out and the River City Rascals baseball game was canceled.
In Glen Carbon, the storm hit quickly about 7 p.m. and moved on without major damage.
In Arnold, Tom and Tana Harris of the 2800 block of Fannie Drive were home with their sons, Levi and Larry, and Larry's girlfriend, Angela Clark, when a tree crashed through the ceiling and the house collapsed. Levi, 5, was trapped.
"The beams fell on him and all I could see were his little feet," his mother said.
Levi was soon rescued and Angela Clark was taken to a hospital with a broken ankle.
In De Soto, the storm caused the collapse of the Spiedel Muffler building.
In St. Charles County, tree limbs were down, power was out and the River City Rascals baseball game was canceled.
Shedding some light
At Mike Duffy's Pub & Grill in Kirkwood, manager Marty Smith said the patrons remained calm when the storm hit. But then a concrete street lamp came crashing down onto the driver's side of a red Dodge Caravan parked on West Jefferson.
Smith went from table to table seeking the owner of the car.
"As I approached her, she said, 'I have a red Caravan. Are my lights on?'" Smith recalled. "I said, 'There's a light - on it.'"
