Photo taken Tuesday in Frankville, MO, by 7OA. Frankville is near West Plains.

After starting the day off in St.Louis we headed down Highway 67 to our assigned shelter in Kennett, MO (the home of Sheryl Crow.) As we entered the Mark Twain National Forest, we started seeing some ice on the trees, then it seemed like we crossed an invisible line. It was hard to believe what we were seeing -- miles and miles of power lines on the ground with the power polls broken in half and everything coated in two inches of ice.

 

As we arrived in Kennett we were drove by the Wal-Mart that was being guarded by 5 cop cars directing traffic.  When we arrived at the shelter, we were greeted by two Red Cross volunteers that had been manning the shelter of 135 residents for the past 48 hours alone. Luckily they were able to recruit 7 of the shelter residents to assist them.

 

We quickly learned that the entire county of Dunklin was without power, with the exception of about a block around our shelter. We found ourselves with a shortage of blankets, and only 2 extra cots. After  talking with the local Mayor and Emergency Manager, we talked with our home office about our needs.

 

As we settle in for the night we start to think of what we can do to make tomorrow easier. The latest estimate from the local power company is power will not be restored for at least two weeks -- leaving about 10,000 people in the dark with the vast majority of them living within Kennett. As the days wear on people, those who have been staying in their own homes will give up and come in for a warm place to sleep, and warm meal.

 

Until tomorrow!

Mark McWilliams