Utility workers race to restore power after Sunday night storms

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone Electric Cooperative spokeswoman said Monday that utility crews were racing to restore power to some members who have been without electricity since 11 p.m. Sunday.

Downed trees have been one of the biggest problems, with several limbs and entire trees knocking over power lines. Storms went through Mid-Missouri late Sunday, bringing high winds with it and dropping several inches of rain.

Boone Electric spokeswoman Meredith Hoenes said it will take crews longer to restore power where trees took down lines. Hoenes said Boone crews have to clean up the debris before they can get to the power lines.

Hoenes said the crews prepare before a big storm hits and that Sunday night the operation crews were alert and on standby. Hoenes said Boone Electric crews were sent out to outages starting at about 10 p.m. Sunday. Boone Electric has not had to seek help from other utilities, she said.

More than 2,000 Boone Electric members and Columbia Water and Light customers were without power in Boone County shortly before 6 a.m. Boone Electric Cooperative had 2,252 members without power around 1 a.m. Monday. That number was down to 109 at about 2:30 p.m.

Water and Light's outage map showed 82 customers without power.