Severe Damage from Friday Storms Clobbers Major Airport

ANN Real-Time News Update (1301ET, 042311): Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is working to resume up to 70% of airline service by Sunday if power can be returned to Airport facilities. Lambert suffered devastating damage from a storm on Friday, April 22. The Airport will remain closed pending the return of electric power. The St. Louis area utility, Ameren, has estimated power could be returned by Saturday night.  Once sustained power is returned, the Airport is confident it can support the return of flights to a majority of gate areas except Concourse C. Lambert is working with the Airport's airlines to coordinate the effort on their end to try and resume service as soon as possible.  Even after the Airport is opened, travelers are urged to contact their airline for the latest flight information. 

Concourse C sustained heavy damage from fierce winds that blew out a majority of windows and sections of the concourse roof. Terminal 1 also suffered extensive damaged from blown windows and doors. For the last 12 hours, the Airport has led an aggressive effort  of cleanup in and around the complex. The Airfield has been cleared and safe for the return of flight activity.

"We want to thank our employees and all of our mutual aid support from surrounding communities for the immediate and sustained response to help our passengers, begin cleanup and work to get our operations started again," said Lambert Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge. Five people who were transported to the hospital Friday have since been treated and released with minor injuries. The Airport assisted a dozen passengers overnight who were stranded from flight cancellations. Others were shuttled to nearby hotels.

Metro is prepared to restore Metrolink service as soon as the Airport's operations are operational. Damage estimates are still coming in and there is no clear date on when the Airport Complex will be fully repaired.

"This landmark facility has taken a direct hit from a natural disaster," said Congressman Lacy Clay at a morning news conference at Lambert. "We have reached out to the President to see what assistance we can get from FEMA." The Airport anticipates that most of the facilities except for Concourse C will be fully operational by midweek. Concourse C will take some time to restore. Lambert is working with the airlines that operate out of that concourse to find alternative sites at other concourses so they can begin operations.

Initial Report (0230ET, 042311): Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is closed indefinitely after severe storm damage on the evening of Friday, April 22. Initially, four people were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries. All inbound and outbound flights are cancelled at Lambert until further notice pending safety and operational assessments to determine the full extent of damage to the airport complex and the surrounding area.

At this time, it appears that Terminal 1 and Concourse C suffered the most damage from the storm with high winds that blew out up to 50 percent of windows and caused roof damage as well.  There is also considerable storm damage at the entrances of the airport and along roadways. People with scheduled flights or those planning to pick up arriving passengers should not come to the Airport without checking the status of their flights with their airlines.

"We are working with all the airlines to assess damage, at this time we do not believe any aircraft was damaged, said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Lambert- St. Louis Int'l Airport Director. St. Louis City and St. Louis County emergency management teams are assisting with the clean-up of the airport and surrounding areas. The airport will be working around the clock to determine the full extent of damage.

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