Utility Crews Work To Restore Power In NE Oklahoma, SE Kansas

The electric utility which serves Quapaw, Oklahoma and Baxter Springs, Kansas says its crews have been out since Sunday evening working to restore service to victims of tornadoes. 

Empire District Electric spokesperson Julie Maus says 1,300 customers in Ottawa County in Oklahoma and 400 customers in Cherokee County in Kansas are still without power Monday.

Maus said the tornadoes knocked out power to 5,000 customers in the two counties. She said  the storms damaged or knocked down 200 utility poles in both states.

Additional crews from Empire District Electric's service area in Branson, Missouri have been called in to help.

Maus says she doesn't have a timetable for when electric service will be restored to the remaining customers, but crews are working as quickly and safely as possible, she says.

Empire District Electric Outage Map