Monday Update: Power and Water Progress

Electricity: The local emergency management officials in Crittenden County spoke on the phone with last night with Kentucky Utilities. Based on that, emergency management officials in Marion are creating a strategic plan to deal with power in the city for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Kenergy is making marked progress in the county, working with several out-of-state crews.

Water: The boil water for Marion has been lifted (excepting Briarwood Subdivision). That subdivision should boil water until further notice.

Have updates to share? E-mail matthewtpatton@yahoo.com.

Insult to Injury: Phil Predicts More Bad Weather

The Groundhog Club reports that the prognosticator of all prognosticators, Puxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today in Puxsutawney, Pa., thus predicting six more weeks of winter.

Just what Crittenden County doesn't need! Darned groundhog!

Electricity Update: Progress in County

Some residents in the Rosebud, Piney Fork and Shady Grove areas are enjoying electricity tonight.

Marion is reportedly looking at getting some restoration in the next 1-2 days.

If you have any updates, e-mail matthewtpatton@yahoo.com.

Extension Agent Offers Safety Tips

Nancy Hunt, Crittenden County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Services wrote and said: "This is information from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service. They have more experience in the situations we are facing in Crittenden County and the surrounding areas."

Disinfecting Water
Unless you are absolutely certain your water supply is not contaminated, purify all water before using it for drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth, or washing dishes. If the water contains sediment or floating material, strain it through a cloth before purifying it. If you have access to heat or power, water can be made safe by boiling. If not, you will have to treat it with chemicals.

Boiling (preferred method): Boil water at a rolling boil for 10 minutes to kill any disease-causing bacteria.

Chemical treatment: If you can't boil water, chemical treatment will kill most disease-causing organisms. Any of the following three chemical treatments will purify water.

Chlorine bleach. Household bleach is a good disinfectant for water. Before using, check the label to be sure hypochlorite is the only active ingredient in the bleach. Do not use bleach that contains soap. Since the amount of chlorine in bleach is variable, use the following table to determine the appropriate amount needed to purify water. Mix the bleach thoroughly in the water, and let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn't, repeat the dose and let the water stand for an additional 15 minutes.

Percentage Chlorine
1%: 40 drops per gallon of water
2 to 6%: 8 drops per gallon of water
7 to 10%: 4 drops per gallon of water

Iodine. Household iodine from the medicine cabinet will purify water. The iodine should be 2 percent United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) strength. Add 20 drops per gallon of clear water and 40 drops per gallon of cloudy water.

Water purification tablets. Water purification tablets will also purify water. These tablets are available at drug stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Water From the Hot Water Heater
Your hot water heater or water pressure tank could supply many gallons of safe water during an emergency. Before using water from the water heater, switch off the gas or electricity that heats the water. Leaving the power on while the heater is empty could cause an explosion or burn out the elements. After turning off the power source, open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Do not turn the water heater on again until the water system is back in service. Boiled water stored in sterilized containers will keep for six months to one year.

Preparing Food During a Power Failure:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9001.htm

Safety of Frozen Food During a Power Outage:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9002.htm

Safety of Refrigerated Foods After a Power Outage:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9003.htm

Food Safety During Power Outages:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9004.htm

Quantity Cooking in a Shelter Setting:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9007.htm

Unvented Portable Kerosene Heaters:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9026.htm

Staying Warm in an Unheated House:
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/9022.htm

FEMA Not Reimbursing Generators

Rumors have been circulating that FEMA will reimburse for generators. Seems this is not the case.

The buyer must have documented medical or extraordinary needs to get financial assistance.

Source: http://www.kspr.com/news/local/38764187.html.

Viewer Report 5: Downed Trees

Jenny Patton shared these photos of Lola Mae Patton's home between Dycusburg and Caldwell Springs. The majestic trees in the front yard have fallen onto the roof and porch. Send your photos and videos to matthewtpatton@yahoo.com for inclusion on this blog.

School Update

Classes have been canceled at Crittenden County schools for the entire week of Feb. 1.

Electricity Update: Current Outages

A report at www.kentucky.com detailed the number of power outages as of 6 p.m., Jan. 31.

Crittenden Co.: 3,624
Lyon Co.: 3,944
Union Co.: 4,628
Livingston Co.: 6,039
Caldwell Co.: 2,221

Viewer Report 4: Footage of Devastation Near Dycusburg

Michelle Henderson of Dycusburg, Ky., provided this raw video, taken on Jan. 31, 2009.

Share your videos and photos by e-mailing matthewpatton@yahoo.com.

Saturday Update: Dealing With the Aftermath

A few updates for Saturday on the situation in Crittenden County:

Water: Water is back in the city of Marion. The Crittenden-Livingston Water District reported that as of last night, 30 percent of its customers had water.

Fuel: One gas station was open in Marion today. Its lines were long and distribution was being limited.

Banks: Reportedly, banks were open today in Marion, but limiting withdrawals to $200 per customer.

Electricity: The situation remains grim for power restoration. The city of Marion may not have electricity for at least a week. The rest of the county can expect much longer waits (the most rural areas of the county could be looking at April for restoration).

Area Still Dealing With Phone Outages?

It appears some landline numbers are still not working in Crittenden County and, seemingly, some cell phone users are experiencing difficulty.

Send your updates to matthewtpatton@yahoo.com and we'll report on what's working, what's not.

A View of Patti's 1800s Settlement

AP photo: Overhead wires and signs outside Patti’s 1800s Settlement in Grand Rivers, Ky., dangle in ice.

Read the accompanying story in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/us/31kentucky.html?ref=us

Road Conditions Updated Online

The Transportation Operations Center (TOC) monitors road conditions 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Condition reports for major routes are available by calling 511 in Kentucky or online at http://511.ky.gov.

The site logged 1.7 million hits from midday Tuesday to midday Wednesday.

Governor Launches Campaign to 'Restock the Pantries'

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Today, in conjunction with universities and community organizations across the Commonwealth, Governor Beshear launched a statewide outreach campaign to “Restock the Pantries” at Kentucky’s dwindling food banks.

Tomorrow, volunteers will be on hand at several Kentucky universities to encourage those attending basketball games to make both food item and financial donations to individuals in need, both in local communities and across the state.

For the full press release, click here: http://tinyurl.com/bv6479.

Multimedia Report: County Residents Urged to Leave (Jan. 30, 2009)

Special report by Matthew T. Patton

Share your feedback by e-mailing matthewtpatton@yahoo.com.

Viewer Report 3: Storm Damage Photos

Michelle Henderson of Dycusburg, Ky., shares these photos.

Share your photos with readers by e-mailing them to matthewtpatton@yahoo.com.

Share Your News and Updates

What news have you heard from Crittenden County worth sharing?

Have photos to share?

Send your updates, photos and videos to matthewtpatton@yahoo.com about Winter Storm 2009 for inclusion on this blog.

Friday Update: Judge Brown Says 'Pack a Suitcase'

MARION, Ky. (AP) — In some parts of rural Kentucky, they're getting water the old-fashioned way — with pails from a creek. There's not room for one more sleeping bag on the shelter floor. The creative are flushing their toilets with melted snow.

At least 42 people have died, including 11 in Kentucky, and conditions are worsening in many places days after an ice storm knocked out power to 1.3 million customers from the Plains to the East Coast. And with no hope that the lights will come back on soon, small communities are frantically struggling to help their residents.

On Friday, one county put it bluntly: It can't.

"We're asking people to pack a suitcase and head south and find a motel if they have the means, because we can't service everybody in our shelter," said Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown (pictured), who oversees about 9,000 people, many of whom are sleeping in the town's elementary school.

For the full story from the AP, click here: http://tinyurl.com/bwytfc.

Friday Update: 'Consider Evacuating to the South'

This information is from the CBS Affiliate KFVS 12:
The Marion/Crittenden County Emergency Operations (EOC) in Marion, KY, advises its citizens to expect long delays in power outages, water outages, and fuel shortages. Water customers of Marion and the Crittenden/Livingston water districts should expect all water to be out. This period is expected to last up to several weeks.

We are advising person not able to sustain their personal health and well being for several weeks to consider evacuating to the south. An emergency shelter is open at the Crittenden County Elementary School, citizens utilizing the shelter should bring blankets, pillow, and person necessities this shelter is filling up.U.S. Highway 60 to Marion is open and US 641 South to I-24 is open. It is reported areas to the South around Nashville Tennessee are not affected by the ice storm.

The emergency operations center may be contacted at (270) 965-3500 or 911. Resources are very limited and the emergency rescue squads may not be able to reach persons in a timely manner.

Carbon Monoxide Responsible for Multiple Deaths

We've heard reports of people across the state placing their generators inside their homes -- a very lethal decision.

A story was published today, noting:

The biggest killer in the ice storm this week has not been the bone-chilling temperatures, car wrecks or falling trees and powerlines, but the silent killer known as carbon monoxide.

Read the full story here: http://www.kentucky.com/787/story/677686.html.