Massive blackout continues in St. Louis

AP - • ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nearly a quarter-million homes and businesses still had no electricity Monday as the city struggled to recover from last week's devastating thunderstorms.

The blackout has kept air conditioners from cooling homes since Wednesday, while temperatures outside soared into triple digits.

As of Monday morning, about 231,000 customers were still without power, according to Ameren Corp. That was down from the more than a half-million customers that lost power when the storms struck.

With about 4,000 utility workers from as far away as Arizona working around the clock to restore service, Ameren Vice President Richard Mark said 90 percent could have power again by Tuesday, with the rest expected to have electricity Wednesday.

The blackout has left emergency rooms across the region inundated with patients who rely on electricity for oxygen and other medical needs.