SPECIAL STORM SUPPLEMENT - FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009
Winter storm paralyzes community
Emergency issues
The Crittenden Press was printed
Tuesday prior to the worst of this
week’s storm. Because the newspa-
per has little information about the
storm and its aftermath, The Press
has added this emergency supple-
ment to newspapers sold on racks
and delivered in Crittenden County.
WATER - Power outages caused
both the City of Marion and Critten-
den-Livingston Water District to run
out of water supplies Wednesday.
However, both water providers had
power generators in place as of Fri-
day morning and were working to
start up their plants and fill up tanks
and lines. The City of Marion was ex-
pected to have water by mid-after-
noon Friday.
The water you get from your lines
must be boiled, said spokesmen for
the two utilities. Water straight out of
the tap can be used for flushing com-
modes, washing your hands or
cleaning, but do not drink it unless
it’s been boiled first. The boil water
Deputy Greg Rushing investigates an accident involving a box cargo truck that ran off U.S. 641
notice will remain in effect until fur-
at the Crittenden-Caldwell line. Rushing, who is also the county’s emergency management di-
ther notice.
rector, said the storm is the worst he’s ever seen. This photo was taken Tuesday. Roads leading
• ELECTRICITY - In Marion, power
out of Marion such as U.S. 641 and U.S. 60 are now clear of snow and ice.
could be restored by next week to
some residences. In the county, elec-
tricity will be out for several days for
some people and weeks for others.
Leaders seek voluntary evacuation
Utility poles are down throughout the
county, miles and miles of lines are
damaged and crews will have to
clear right-of-ways before most lines Crittenden County leaders and emergency per- as Union City are in the same shape as Kentucky.
can be repaired. Clearing right-of-
sonnel are recommending that residents voluntar- Emergency supplies such as generators, fuel
ways cannot begin in earnest until
ily evacuate if they have the means. cans, kerosene and propane heaters are difficult
the weekend thaw. Temperatures
“This is going to be a prolonged situation,” Crit- to find in areas as far south as Jackson, Tenn. An
Sunday are supposed to be around
tenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown said. influx of Kentucky and Missouri residents have
50. In most cases, it is too danger-
ous to be underneath trees right now “Supplies of everything are going to be limited. If wiped out inventories of such items at Walmart,
due to continued falling limbs. you can leave and seek refuge elsewhere we are Home Depot, Lowes and other department
Donnie Phillips manager at Ken- strongly recommending that you do that.” stores.
ergy in Marion, said crews from
The Marion-Crittenden County Emergency Op- David Travis, deputy director of Emergency
North Carolina, South Carolina,
erations Center (EOC) at city hall advised Friday Management Services (EMS) in Crittenden
Georgia and Alabama have been dis-
that power outages, water shortages and fuel County, said that people leaving Marion and
patched to the Kenergy service area
shortages will be longterm. Power outages will heading south should understand that fuel is not
to help. The power company is gath-
ering supplies such as poles and last for days in some areas, weeks in others. available in most cases until you get into Ten-
transformers, and Phillips said that The EOC said in a news release that highways nessee. Have at least a half tank before you
by Sunday residents should see a leading to Interstate 24 are clear, including U.S. leave. Lines of bumper-to-bumper traffic
great deal of activity in restoring the
60 and U.S. 641. The interstate and parkways are clogged U.S. 641 Thursday as residents left
outage. He cautioned, however, that
clear. EOC officials say that areas south and east seeking refuge from the storm which dumped
it could be weeks before some resi-
of Murray were not affected by the storm. five inches of snow and ice on Crittenden
dents get their power back.
Nashville, Clarksville and Paris, Tenn., have County and all of western Kentucky.
On Friday morning, Kenergy crews
power, but cities in far western Tennessee such
See STORM on back

Some phone lines working County seeks FEMA aid
President Barack Obama has declared all of Ken-
tucky a disaster area, making municipalities across
Phone service has been made at that time. dents will not have phone the state eligible for federal assistance.
Crittenden County has already asked the Federal
tenuous in the area, which has A technician with AT&T in service until the power compa-
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for gen-
created problems for residents Marion said some lines on the nies get electricity restored be-
erators, 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 3,000 gallons
and emergency workers. 965 exchange are working. cause the fiber phone lines
of gasoline, 2,000 gallons of kerosene, 20,000 bot-
David Travis, deputy direc- Those near Marion with cop- need electricity to make them
tles of drinking water and food with a one-week
tor of Emergency Manage- per wire lines are okay, he work. shelf life for 9,500 people.
ment Services (EMS) in said. Those residents in re- Verizon cellular phones are Additionally, the county and city have requested
Crittenden County, said Friday mote areas who are served by working in Crittenden County, more National Guard assistance and equipment.
morning was the first contact fiber lines do not have service. but AT&T phones are not. The County Judge-Executive Fred Brown and Mayor
Crittenden leaders had with Generators are being installed AT&T tower on Wilson Hill was Mickey Alexander have asked for a water treatment
truck, dozers, 1,500 beds, blankets and pillows, two
others outside of the commu- at strategic locations to get to blame for the outage. Crews
ambulances, additional law enforcement, four satel-
nity. some of the fiber lines back in were working to try and restore
lite radios and water tankers.
A request for relief was service. However, many resi- power to the tower on Friday.
Outages hobble media outlets
Due to the power outage, The
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Early Bird could be a day late next
911 or 965-3500 or 965-5313
week. Once power is restored to the
area, The Early Bird will return to its Emergency Operations Center
normal schedule. is at Marion City Hall
The Crittenden Press will be pub-
lished next week and should be FM 87.7.
available Wednesday afternoon in Also, local officials say they are
Marion. providing updated Crittenden County
■ WMJL is off the air until power is information to WKYQ Radio FM 93.3.
■ The U.S. Postal Service in Mar-
restored in the city. From newborn babies to elderly residents near 100 years old,
■ Paducah’s WPSD-TV was run- ion was working on getting carriers Crittenden County Elementary School has been home to
ning on a generator power earlier this onto some routes on Friday. How- scores of people this week. The Red Cross shelter opened
week and broadcasting the news al- ever, delivery will be on a limited mid-day Tuesday and was already housing 160 on Wednes-
most non-stopped. You can hear the basis. day morning. Those continuing to seek shelter there must
broadcast on your radio by tuning to bring their own food, clothing, blankets, etc. Call 965-3500 or
965-5313 for sheltering options.
emergencies only. Only those need-
STORMfrom front ing true emergency care will be ad-
Groceries, pharmacies banks
mitted to the emergency room, said
Continued
Hospital CEO Jim Christensen.
in Marion were trying to get sub-
Crittenden Hospital has also es-
stations back up and running.
are opening on limited basis
tablished a temporary clinic with
Phillips said that once equipment
physicians and other healthcare
such as dozers and limb trimmers
providers. It is open during the day
arrive, residents will see a flurry of
only. In Marion, Conrad’s Food Store and Food Giant are operating on
activity and some homes will start
All hospital patients have been limited schedules during daytime hours. At Conrad’s, customers are
coming on line.
evacuated from Crittenden County being allowed into the store a few at time. It takes about one hour to
He said power was out to 100
to other nearby hospitals, most of get in and get out with what you need and only cash and checks
percent of the county as of Friday
them to Evansville.
are accepted. Milk, bread and eggs are available, plus other non-
morning, but three or four homes
■ FUEL - Ideal Fuels in Marion
on Ky. 91 North, which are on the perishable foods. Conrad’s deli is operating on a limited basis. Food
was selling gas with a $10 limit Fri-
same circuit as the Kenergy head- Giant is open from 8 a.m., to 3 p.m., daily, but will be closed Sun-
day afternoon, while supplies last.
quarters, would have power later in day. They are accepted cash, checks and credit cards. Salem
Reports from storage facilties in
the day. Foods is open 7 a.m., to 5 p.m., accepting cash and checks, and
Paducah are that supplies are plen-
Meantime, Phillips stresses that quantities are being limited on some items.
tiful, however, distribution is a prob-
residents avoid touching any Account holders at Farmers Bank and Peoples Bank can make
lem. As soon as power is restored
downed lines. “We have started withdrawals while the banks are open on an abbreviated schedule
to gas stations, fuel will be avail-
bringing some circuits back on line from 9 to 11 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Peoples Bank will be open
able. There are reports of fuel avail-
today,” he said Friday morning. 10 a.m., to 1 p.m., starting next week and Farmers will be open on
ability in Cave In Rock, Ill.,
“That means those lines will be
an abbreviated schedule, too. Bank customers may withdraw only
Henderson, Morganfield, Sturgis,
live.”
Paducah, Murray and Hopkinsville. $200 cash. Any deposits will not be posted to accounts until electri-
Phillips asks that residents using
Gas is available in limited amounts cal power is fully restored in the city.
generators avoid connecting them
and lines are usually long. Judge-Executive Fred Brown said Marion pharmacies were open
through their home’s electrical serv-
Availability at those locations is on a limited basis Friday and had plans of staying open late into the
ice box. Backfeed from the genera-
subject to change at any time. If evening. They will continue to be open. CVS is open from 9 a.m.,
tor could kill a lineman working on
you are leaving in a vehicle, be until 9 p.m., and accepting all forms of payment.
the line far away from your home.
sure to have at least a half tank of Anyone with a medical emergency should go directly to Critten-
If the service line from your meter
gas. That should get you far den or Livingston hospital. If you have phone service, you can call
is damaged, Phillips said Kenergy
enough south to find more fuel. 911. Kentucky National Guard soldiers have been deployed to Mar-
needs to know about it. Call 1-800-
■ DEATHS - Although the winter
844-4832 or (270) 826-3991 or stop ion to help transfer people to the hospital. Guardsmen are also
storm is being blamed for several
by the Kenergy office on South doing welfare checks at homes throughout the county to see if any-
deaths in the region, local officials
Main Street in Marion. one is in need of immediate help. They will take people to the
say no one in Crittenden County
■ MEDICAL EMERGENCIES - county’s warming center at Crittenden Elementary School upon re-
has died due to storm-related is-
Call 911 or go directly to hospital for quest.
sues.