By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Nearly a week after a winter storm dumped ice and snow on the region, people in southeast Missouri are still dealing with widespread power outages.
The state emergency management agency reported about 54,000 homes and businesses still without electricity as of Sunday evening.
That figure includes 95 percent of the power customers in Butler County, on the Arkansas line.
Governor Jay Nixon sent Missouri National Guard troops to eight counties, and President Obama issued an emergency declaration to allow federal funds to be used in the area.