One of the state's largest utilities is reminding power and natural gas customers to be ready for severe weather, particularly if the power should go out.
Ameren Illinois showed off one of its mobile restoration trailers in Marion Monday, to give a perspective on how power can be restored after severe weather, flooding or other troubles. Supply Chain Operations Superintendent Larry Bevington says the trailers, which are loaded with supplies, are a great asset during and after catastrophic events: "Trailers have been designed to meet specific values in service restoration. There's enough material in here to provide for 400 services, and we have enough material hardware in these trailers to restore or replace 100 poles."
In the meantime, experts say customers should be careful if there has been a storm or other event that may have brought down power lines. Ameren says if a line is down, it should be considered live and avoided.
Leaders also say with all the rain that's fallen lately, customers should be very careful and never go into a flooded basement or home where there might be electric appliances or outlets still connected to a power supply. You can get more information at Ameren.com.
