Ice storm takes its toll on NEA, powerlines, residents

It didn’t take a month into 2009 when something that would affect — and change the landscape of nearly all of northeast Arkansas came falling from the sky... in the form of freezing rain.  The devastating January ice storm, the worst in at least half a century, left virtually everyone in the area without power for days, and in some outlying areas weeks.

There aren’t many moments in history that had the effect of the ice storm. It only took a matter of hours for a thick blanket of ice to smother the region. The ice left behind by the storm was so thick and so heavy that it snapped tree limbs and utility poles like toothpicks. More than 700 electric company workers from around the country came to help Entergy and individual power companies restore power to the area. Though, it did take some time to get rural areas back on and running again.

The ice storm proved to be deadly as well, unfortunately, when Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg was killed while placing traffic cones out to warn motorists of a blocked roadway. A limb broke from a tree above him and landed on him, killing him instantly.

The damage left behind from the ice storm caused many Arkansas cities additional costs for clean up as well, though FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) did step in, at the suggestion of U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln and U.S. Representative Marion Berry. In June the delegates announced how much money would be allotted. The City of Blytheville received just over $2 million; Clay County Electric Cooperative Corporation received $21,727,435; North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. received $5.300,446; Paragould Light and Water Commission received $2,255,874; Mississippi County Electric Cooperative received $5,824,913; and Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation received $13,598,307.

Though the ice storm left its mark on our region, good things came out of it as well. We all saw communities come together to help those who had no place to go for warmth or food. Churches, community centers, and anywhere else that had electricity available opened their doors to those in the community with needs. The Convocation Center at ASU alone housed and fed more than 2,000 people for several days.

The storm has made government at every level rethink its ability to manage through a disaster.  From state to county to city; more has been done to try and make sure that we are better prepared to handle a major weather disaster.  In the City of Jonesboro, a comprehensive business continuity plan has been adopted that will help the city maintain service throughout a host of scenarios; tornadoes, earthquakes, pandemics, chemical spills…and ice storms.  Shelters have been designated in communities across the region and leaders have a heightened sense of awareness when prepping for winter weather.

The storm did bring out the best in us, though.  Government and utility workers rose to the occasion at unprecedented levels, and anyone who had food or heat was eager to help a friend or neighbor.  It was good to see that our communities never change. Whenever there is a major need, everyone always pulls together to make it work and to help others.