Daily Dunklin Democrat: Local News: Ozark Border thanks Emerson for storm help (08/20/10)

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson poses with Barry Hart, CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives and the Association's Rural Missouri Magazine mascot Buddy Bear during the annual meeting of Ozark Border Electric Cooperative. The cooperative honored Emerson for her support in the 2009 ice storm.

Photo provided

When the chips are down, it's always nice to have someone to turn to for help. That was the case when Ozark Border Electric Co-op experienced its worst ice storm in its history in January 2009.

During its annual meeting held Aug. 7, the cooperative thanked U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives CEO Barry Hart for their role in helping restore power to the cooperative's members.

"During the first 24 hours of the outages, we realized we needed help from other cooperatives and our first call was to the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives who arranged for 150 linemen from 20 cooperatives to assist us in restoring power," said Ozark Border Manager Stanley Estes. "But we needed more help. That's when our representative, Jo Ann Emerson, assisted by arranging for contractors working near our service area to come and assist us rather than going to another state."

Emerson's help was especially important because it kept more than 3,000 lineworkers in the area helping not only Ozark Border but also SEMO, Pemiscot-Dunklin and M&A Power cooperatives restore service. She also traveled to the disaster area to see first-hand the extent of the damage and offered her assistance with anything that would hasten the restoration process. Her presence cut through the red tape in many ways, helping to speed delivery of generators for vital services and relief supplies for those without power.

While the cooperative thanked Emerson in the days following the ice storm, this was its first opportunity to publicly thank her in front of the membership. She was presented with a special plaque during the cooperative's annual membership meeting.

"We have come to rely on Rep. Emerson for help in many ways," said Hart. "We know we can always count on her whether it is during a time of crisis like we experienced in 2009 or in protecting our member's rates as Congress debates the cap and trade issue. Electric cooperative members in Southeast Missouri are fortunate to have her working on their behalf."