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.