Crews battle challenges while rebuilding Delta’s entire electricity infrastructure

DELTA, Mo. (KFVS) — Dozens of electric crews are in high gear battling challenges while they work to restore power in Delta.

“There are objects that could fall. We’re pulling cable. We’ve got poles in the air on being pulled up,” Landy Wince, Ameren senior director, said.

There are more electric crews in Delta than residents right now.

You can see multiple trucks blocking off Liberty Street

Ameren Senior Director Landy Wince is in charge of getting the lights back on.

“It’s a safety issue, not only for our folks, but also the folks that are walking around looking at the work,” Wince said.

Utility crews are taking up a lot of space in Delta. So much so, Cape Girardeau County is putting a pause on its volunteer services to help make more room.

“We saw that just getting here for the people who are the other responders is difficult, and for the local town people, even getting around is difficult,” Schott said. “So we made the decision to go ahead and stop having volunteers come to the area.”

Kyle Schott told us their work is more important than picking up debris and cutting down trees.

“Let’s get electricity restored. Let’s stay out of Ameren’s way, and then we can look at bringing in the volunteers to help the town recover from this latest disaster that we’re experiencing,” he said.

Wince told Heartland News that Ameren is rebuilding Delta’s entire electricity infrastructure.

However, all the rain we’re expecting could slow them down.

“As you can see, a lot of the ditches in areas in the creeks are getting overfilled currently, and with the hard rain and lightning,” Wince explained. “We don’t want folks in buckets up in the air and lightning. So we keep a close eye on that to make sure our folks are safe and we bring them down.”

He credits the local community for their support as his crews focus on powering the town back up.

“They’re appreciative of our help, and we really appreciate their patience and kindness.”

In addition, Wince said they are making “tremendous progress” and you can expect crew members through the weekend working on power restoration.

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