By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Ameren says about 52,000 customers in Missouri and illinois still don't have power this morning, but only 8,000 of those are in Missouri.
Meanwhile, 18 deaths in Missouri and Illinois have been blamed on the storm and its aftermath.
The state of Missouri is temporarily waiving some limits on disposal and burning in the wake of all the debris from last week's storm.
Yard waste that's normally banned from landfills, for example, will be allowed for the rest of the month. People in outstate Missouri can also now burn yard waste, but those in the St. Louis metro area still cannot.
For some, though, this is day seven without power. The company says it also has heard from some linemen who say they were threatened by frustrated customers.
Many people have stayed with friends or family, or in city-run shelters, but there are also those spending out of wallet on hotels.
The governors of Missouri and Illinois have both declared emergencies and are looking to gain federal declarations, which would free up money from Washington to help fray costs.
The agencies in both states that regulate utilities are also moving towards investigating the power outage and how Ameren responded.
Missouri's Public Service commission has demanded the utility come up with ideas for preventing such widespread blackouts; that could include burying power lines, using stronger lines, or granting more authority to trim tress on private property.