Missouri Ozarks Battered by Ice

In a repeat performance of January 14, 2007, the Ozarks were hit by another devastating ice storm February 10, 2008.

Here in Cape Fair, Missouri the ice started falling as a mix of rain and sleet around 1 P.M. Central time. By nightfall, the roads were impassable.

Schools and businesses closed all over the area. The ice continued to fall throughout the night and into the night of February 11, creating a blanket of up to one-inch totals of ice, leaving many without power, as downed limbs, again, took out power lines all over the Ozarks.

Hundreds of Greene County residents are still without power as are many other counties around the area. Many schools are still closed, due in part to the lack of heat.

Churches and other organizations have set up shelters in just about every town in the area, advising those in need to bring bedding and personal needs items. Those in need are warned that no pets are allowed and will be turned away.

Local stores that carry such items as Ice Melt, propane heaters and generators are reporting a shortage of those items.

Many rural residents also face a need for water since they are on private well systems.

The predicted warm up for the Ozarks today may well melt the ice, but much damage has been done again with devastation of our trees and power companies.

Though clean-up efforts are underway, the City of Springfield, last night, advised its residents that no pick-up service would be forthcoming. Last years storm found the elderly of Springfield hard hit, when it came to clean-up efforts. It appears that this year will be even more difficult for them as they now must find a way to remove the debris themselves.

Last years storm left my area in southern Polk County, Missouri without power for no less than 18 days. It appears that the worst of this year's storm has hit more to the south and east of Springfield.

Last night, City Utilities, the power company that supplies Springfield cancelled a planned meeting. Ironically, the topic of that meeting was to be, "Tree-trimming Management".