Greene County OEM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2025 | 11 AM

Contact: Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management Joint Information Center

Damage Assessment Line: 417-829-6200

City Utilities Outage Line: 888-863-9001

Media Inquiries: Nicolette Zangara, OEM – 224-778-0182

Jamie Presley, City Utilities – 417-575-7341

Cora Scott, City of Springfield – 417-380-3352

Robert Jehle, Greene County - 17-844-4311

Jenny Edwards, Parks - 417-224-5510

GREENE COUNTY, Mo. – Recovery efforts continue across Springfield and Greene County following severe storms that swept through the area on June 29. A media briefing will be held at 3:30 PM today, June 30, at the Public Safety Center, 330 W. Scott Street. The Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is asking residents to report any damage to structures or vehicles by calling the damage assessment line at 417-829-6200. Power Restoration City Utilities (CU) is working diligently to restore electric service to more than 9,000 customers still without power—down from a peak of approximately 37,000 outages. Over 90 lineworkers worked overnight to assess and repair damage. Additional crews, including mutual aid and tree trimming teams, have joined the effort.

Due to the widespread nature of the damage, customers should prepare for multi-day outages.

Substantial restoration is expected by Thursday, July 3 for customers who can safely accept power.

To view current outages, visit the City Utilities outage map.

Residents are urged to inspect their weather heads—the connection point where power lines meet their building. If damaged, these must be repaired by a licensed electrician before service can be restored. For guidance, visit the outage safety page.

Customers should report outages by calling 888-863-9001, even if they believe CU is already aware.

To report downed power lines, call 417-863-9000. For other storm-related damage, contact the Greene County Public Information Call Center at 417-829-6200.

As of 9:30 a.m. today, outage numbers are:

• City Utilities: 9,000 outages

• Liberty Electric: 1,400 outages

• Ozark Electric: 5,000 outages

• Webster Electric: (no report)

• Southwest Electric: 0 outages

CU is also receiving reports of natural gas odors and possible leaks. If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately and call 911 or City Utilities at (417) 863-9000. Do not use electrical switches, phones, or anything that could create a spark.

Debris Management

OEM teams are actively assessing damage, and non-governmental organizations like Convoy of Hope are deploying chainsaw crews for debris removal.

There’s been reporting of debris in the northwest part of Greene County.

The Ash Grove Mayor reports several power poles down there.

Springfield Public Works Street Operations and Arborist crews have been working throughout the night to address public safety and roadway clearing needs. Out of 93 of the service requests received as of 6 a.m., 66 have been cleared from streets. 22 locations involve downed powerlines and crews are coordinating closely with City Utilities to make safe and clear as quickly as possible.

As of 9 a.m., four City-managed intersections remain dark due to power outages, with 4 additional intersections operating via generator or internal battery backups. Please remember to treat dark or flashing traffic lights as four-way stops and utilize caution.

Mass Care and Cooling Centers

Mass care needs are being monitored throughout the day. With power restoration progressing and temperatures expected to remain below 90°, cooling centers are not anticipated to be needed today.

Outdoor Warning Sirens

Multiple outdoor warning sirens are currently offline due to storm damage or power loss. Repairs are underway, but safety precautions may delay work during inclement weather. OEM reminds residents not to rely solely on outdoor sirens. Use multiple tools to stay informed:

• NOAA Weather Radio

• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

• Local TV and radio

• Reputable weather apps

Parks and Trails Impact

Springfield-Greene County Park Board staff continue to assess and clean up damage throughout the park system and along trails. The following facilities are closed:

• Dan Kinney Family Center (power outage)

• Rivercut and Horton Smith golf courses (tree damage)

Significant tree damage was also reported at Ray Kelly, Fassnight, Jenny Lincoln, and Nathanael Greene-Close Memorial parks. Debris is present in many other parks south of Chestnut Expressway.

Park and trail users are advised:

• Avoid downed trees and limbs

• Do not allow children to climb on debris

• Use caution on greenway trails, which may be obstructed

To report park or trail damage, message the Park Board’s Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/TheParkBoard or call 417-894-1049.

Stay informed. Stay safe. More updates will be provided throughout the day via official channels and during the 3:30 PM news briefing.

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The news briefing will be streamed from the OEM and City of Springfield Facebook pages.