MARION – Ameren Illinois invited first responders and community leaders recently to its operating center in Marion as part of an emergency preparedness open house. The event gave local leaders and responders an opportunity to see and ask questions about the type of equipment the company uses if there is a natural gas leak or after the lights go out because of severe weather.
“We had interactive displays set up, each with an Ameren Illinois employee, who was able to explain how the equipment works during a utility emergency or on a blue-sky day,” said Brian Bretsch, a spokesman for Ameren Illinois. “As a bonus, there were opportunities to give visitors a ride in a bucket truck to see the equipment from a birds-eye perspective.”
Equipment on display included:
- Storm trailer – a mobile supply warehouse deployed to areas hardest hit by severe weather
- Mobile Substation – interim grid connection and temporary power supply
- Track Digger – purpose-built vehicles with tracks rather than wheels
- Vapor Extraction Unit – technology that pulls natural gas from ground that may be saturated
- Compact Natural Gas Trailer – temporary gas supply in the event of emergencies or disruption of service
- Level 2 Suits – allows natural gas crews to work safely in a gaseous environment
“Crews refer to the storm trailer as their lifeline,” Bretsch said. “Knowing that we can mobilize this close to an area that has been hit with severe weather, this is their absolute lifeline to get restore customers power safely.”