As power is restored, city and county officials say life is starting to return to normal

Five days after the tornado hit, city and county departments are returning to normal operation as the relief efforts continue. Municipal Utilities Manager Bill Bach informed City Manager Robert Knodell on Wednesday that there are no more electrical outages left in the city.

Bach cautioned if a house is still without power, those residents need to seek the services of an electrician. MU worked through more than 4,000 outages throughout the weekend.

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center was restored at 2 a.m. Saturday morning. Bach thanked the mutual assistance received from crews from Springfield, Nixa, Monett, Columbia and Hannibal. Arkansas crews from Perryville and Conway also rendered aid.

“All contractors have been released as of 7 this morning,” Bach affirmed.

His current best guess at the cost estimate of the damages to utility infrastructure is $2 million. Street department Superintendent Jerry Lawson said clearing operations have been mostly completed.

“Everything’s going about as smooth as it can,” he added. “I’m proud of my guys.”

Poplar Bluff Police Department Interim Chief J.R. Keirsey echoed, “We’re getting back to normal.”

While some overnight patrols and overtime assignments remain outstanding, he highlighted the importance of giving the officers some rest after a hectic week. Deputy Chief Keith Hefner reported several police vehicles were damaged in the storm and the antenna on top of the 911 Shelby Road headquarters will take roughly a month to replace.

City Planner James Sisk said the State Emergency Management Agency is requesting a comprehensive list of destroyed and impacted homes for threshold estimation. Jeff Shawan will be on the road with Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives Thursday as they assess the destruction of the storm.

Madison Baker of Congressman Jason Smith’s office said federal authorities have communicated the likelihood the region will hit the needed threshold for FEMA aid. He said the most likely form of assistance will be loans such as a home disaster loan up to $500,000 and business physical loans up to $2 million.

Baker also said there will be a possibility of grants up to $10,000 for individuals under a certain income threshold.

Butler County Eastern District Commissioner Ralph Stucker said the county is continuing to work on clearing right of ways and roads. Morgan McIntosh of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce informed attendees that Maci Stucker coordinated a gift from Walmart Corporate of two 18-wheeler trucks full of supplies and $5,000 toward relief efforts.

Knodell drew attention to an interdenominational service at First Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Thursday evening. Butler County Emergency Manager Robbie Myers said Samaritan’s Purse has arrived and will take over most of the relief efforts and volunteer coordination going forward.