Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Honors Members of the Lesterville Fire Department
Commends Response to Taum Sauk Reservoir Failure
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today recognized the Lesterville Fire Department members for their selfless and courageous response following the failure of the Taum Sauk Reservoir last December.
“We owe you a debt of thanks for your heroic efforts that traumatic day and for the job you and your colleagues choose to do every day,” Blunt said. “Your immediate action that morning demonstrated the selflessness of your character and helped save the Toops family.”
In the early morning hours of Dec. 14, the AmerenUE Taum Sauk hydroelectric plant’s upper reservoir near Lesterville breached, flooding Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park with approximately 1.3 billion gallons of water. The home of Park Ranger Jerry Toops and his family lay in the path of the flood’s destruction.
Upon hearing the news of the Taum Sauk failure, the Lesterville Fire Department immediately began search and rescue operations to ensure their neighbors were found and give them the urgent care they needed.
During a ceremony today in the governor’s Capitol Office, Blunt honored members of the Lesterville Fire Department for their heroic actions.
The state holds AmerenUE responsible for the incident and any subsequent damage and cleanup, and will require AmerenUE to pay for and reimburse the state for any expenses, including Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) oversight and assistance. Blunt has also called on DNR, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Attorney General to work together to ensure Missourians are appropriately compensated for damages to one of the state’s most popular recreation areas.
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