Ameren donation to support Delta recovery efforts following devastating April tornado
April tornado wreaked havoc on the city, impacting many aspects of the community
Ameren announced it has contributed $25,000 to the Cape Area Community Foundation to support ongoing recovery efforts in Cape Girardeau County following an EF2 tornado that hit the town of Delta on April 2. As local recovery efforts continue, these funds will be used to revitalize public spaces in Delta, providing residents with much needed areas for gathering and recreation.
The April 2 tornado devastated the city of Delta, impacting homes, businesses and critical utility infrastructure.
“Investing in the public park helps our community with our recovery by offering a renewed outdoor space for families and neighbors,” said City of Delta Mayor Mary Jo Barlow. “This incredible support from Ameren will have a lasting impact on our residents and the vitality of our community as we continue moving forward."
Ameren Missouri crews worked alongside first responders in the hours after the tornado struck. More than 450 personnel were part of the utility's response. In the span of four days, crews replaced approximately 200 storm-damaged wooden power poles and rebuilt much of the town’s electrical grid. The new infrastructure included upgrades such as the addition of stronger composite poles to guard against the impacts of future severe weather.
“Restoring power is an important step in the recovery process after any natural disaster," said Russ Burger, Ameren Missouri’s Southeast Missouri division director. “But our commitment to this community goes beyond just the infrastructure. We’re proud to support the resilience of customers in the Delta community.”
The funds for this donation are from the Ameren Corporation Charitable Trust, which was established in 1944 to serve as a principal source of the company’s philanthropic investments in community projects and programs. Allocations from the Trust come entirely from corporate earnings and are not charged to customers as a business expense.
The Cape Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, serves as the fiscal agent for the Cape Girardeau County Long-Term Recovery Committee. To learn more about the foundation, please visit cfozarks.org.