Trees down, power out in Audrain, Callaway counties

Severe storms hit Mid-Missouri Thursday morning, knocking down trees and knocking out power in Audrain and Callaway counties.

In New Bloomfield, ABC 17 News crews saw a downed tree on Route J. The property owner said with every storm, the tree leaned a little further. The owner said he was chopping it up for firewood for the winter.

North of I-70, just outside Kingdom City limits, power lines were down along Highway 54. Ameren crews were out there around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

In Auxvasse, a resident told ABC 17 News the power went out around 6 a.m. As of 1:00 p.m., their power had not been restored.

One home in Auxvassee had a tree limb fall onto the roof. The Red Cross assisted the homeowner.

The Audrain County Emergency Management director, Steven Shaw, said at one point, 3,500 residents in Audrain County were without power. As of 2:30 p.m., Ameren was telling Shaw they should have power restored by late Thursday or early Friday.

According to Shaw, the county had nursing homes and their 911 facility on back-up power.

Shaw credited residents for helping to clear roads when his crews were busy, making it easier for emergency responders to get where they needed to go.