Rock Island updates storm damage

Font Size:

| Tuesday, July 22, 2008 |

From the City of Rock Island: At this time, most of the roads in the Rock Island are passable, except where power lines are down. One area that is currently closed to traffic is 31st Avenue from 5th Street to Illinois 92.

Rock Island city crews are out cleaning the road of debris, limbs, and trees. Call City of Rock Island Public Works at 732-2200 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to report any blocked roads.

A no burn order has been issued for all of Rock Island until further notice. No leaf burning or recreational burning is allowed in the city. For more information call 732-BURN.

Free special collection of limbs and branches will begin Monday. Customers are asked to set out debris by 7 a.m. on their normal refuse collection day of the week in their regular garbage pickup location. Limbs do not need to be trimmed or bundled. It may take a few weeks to collect all debris.

Rock Island citizens can take trees and limbs to a special drop-off location on 31st Avenue near 1st Street, just west of Ted’s Boatarama. From the south, citizens should take Illinois 92 to the 31st Avenue exit and head east. From central Rock Island or the north, take 18th Avenue west through Sunset Park on Sunset Lane to 31st Avenue.

Citizens are asked to not go around any barricades and be careful around downed power lines. Stay away from any power lines or wires, including any in trees; power can be restored at any time making these live wires. To report a downed power line contact MidAmerican Energy at 800-799-4443.

Much of the City of Rock Island has been affected by power outages, however downtown Rock Island currently has electricity. MidAmerican Energy is reporting that all power should be restored to Rock Island no later than midnight Thursday.

These City of Rock Island facilities are currently closed due to power outages: Rock Island Library 30/31 Branch and Southwest Branch, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Sunset Marina, Rock Island Fitness & Activity Center (RIFAC), Saukie Golf Courses, Whitewater Junction, Fire Stations #2, #3, and #4.

Emergency response has not been affected. Main Library and Highland Springs Golf Course are open.

Should citizens or businesses want to use a generator during the power outage, contact the Rock Island Inspection Division at 732-2910 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. before turning on the generator. City inspectors are available to come to your home or business to ensure the generator is properly connected.

Regular refuse and yard waste collection is currently on schedule. Please keep carts at their pick-up location until they are emptied.

The American Red Cross of the Quad-Cities has opened shelters at the following locations. Families seeking shelter are urged to bring bedding and necessary medications with them to the shelter. For further information contact the Red Cross at 743-2166.

• Eagle Ridge School, 2002 Eagle Ridge Drive, Silvis.

• Riverdale Middle School, 9624 256th St. North, Port Byron.

• In addition, the Red Cross has delivered 25 cots to a shelter located at the Sherrard Fire Station, 101 E 1st St., Sherrard.

• A cooling station has opened at the Milan Community Center, 2701 East 1st Street, Milan.

Rock Island County Health Department supplied the following information on food handling during power outages:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut.

• If you have been without power for more than 4 to 6 hours, throw out the food in the fridge; whole vegetables and fruit are OK.

• Food in the freezer is good for 12 to 24 hours. Food in a chest freezer is good for two days if full or one day if partially filled.