Rapid rebuild supports reliability after Delta tornado

Ameren Missouri crews installed 200 new power poles in four days

On April 2, southeast Missouri faced a historic outbreak of severe weather. The Paducah office of the National Weather Service tracked 23 tornadoes across the region in the span of just a few hours. In Delta, an EF-2 tornado destroyed homes and businesses, along with much of the town’s electrical infrastructure.

Following the storm, Ameren Missouri began working immediately alongside other first responders to support Delta's recovery. The company's response included more than 450 personnel. Damage assessments quickly revealed the tornado destroyed half of the town's electric grid.

Please click on the above picture to watch a video on Ameren Missouri's response to the Delta tornado.

Despite facing another tornado threat just days later, Ameren Missouri teams remained committed to restoring power and rebuilding the grid. In just four days, crews installed approximately 200 new power poles and replaced thousands of feet of damaged wire. 

Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan played a critical role in the rebuild, focusing on enhancing day-to-day reliability and storm resilience. Notably, several composite poles were used, providing greater strength than traditional wooden power poles and anchoring the electrical system to prevent larger outages. These modern standards not only resolved longstanding reliability issues but also positioned Delta for future growth.