As many throughout the Midwest begin digging out from a weeks worth of snow, ice and brutal temperatures, some communities have sent out a call for help.
The City of San Augustine, Texas, a community of about 2,000, located about 30 minutes from the Louisiana border, is one of those communities looking for help. Snow and ice have devastated their electrical facilities and many of their residents have been left without light or electric heat.
On Friday morning, the Harrisonville Electric Department will send both staff and equipment to San Augustine, as part of a mutual aid request through the Missouri Public Utility Association.
Once they arrive, staff will join other communities who have responded to the mutual aid call, restoring power to those hit hardest by the brutal storm.
The City of Harrisonville is proud of the sacrifice our staff will be making, as they brave dangerous conditions to meet a vital need for those hit hardest by this extreme weather. Throughout our history, Harrisonville has always been a community ready and willing to lend a hand when a community is facing hardship. This opportunity to partner with the City of San Augustine is no different.
According to reports, more than 350,000 Texas residents are still without power. So far, at least 30 deaths have been attributed to the storm, with 11 of the victims being from Texas.
To make matters worse, nearly a quarter of Texans are under boil water advisories as water treatment plants lost power early in the week.
Forecasters are tracking a second winter storm bringing bitter-cold temperatures and snow through southern states before it works its way up the east coast. The storm is expected to bring more snow and ice to many areas of the country, including the South, Midwest and Northeast, AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. As the storm advances to the northeast through Friday, snow is forecast to fall along a 2,000-mile-long swath from northwestern and north-central Texas to northern Maine, AccuWeather said. Freezing rain and sleet will occur to the south and east of the snow zone, extending from central Texas to southeastern New York state.