BY ANN FOSTER THELEN
Thirty-five years ago, a powerful fall storm coated much of Iowa in ice, bringing down power lines and poles and leaving tens of thousands of Iowans without electricity. For many electric cooperative members and employees who lived through it, the Halloween Ice Storm of 1991 is difficult to forget.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm began as snow across southern Iowa on Oct. 30 before spreading north. By Halloween morning, precipitation changed to a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of eastern Iowa. The wintry mix continued into Nov. 1, with 1 to 2 inches of ice accumulating from southwest Iowa into north-central Iowa.
The ice caused widespread damage to Iowa’s electric system. Fallen power lines closed Interstate 35. About 80,000 homes across Iowa lost electricity and utility damage totaled an estimated $63 million. Gov. Terry Branstad ultimately declared 52 counties disaster areas.
A devastating blow to rural Iowa
The December 1991 issue of Iowa REC News, a predecessor to Iowa Electric Cooperative Living, called the storm an “icy nightmare.” About half of Iowa’s 48 rural electric cooperatives were affected, with damage estimates reaching $38 million to $40 million.
At the height of the storm, 40,000 cooperative households and businesses were without power. Some members waited nearly two weeks for electricity to be restored as temperatures plunged below zero.
Ice measuring as much as 3 inches in diameter encased some lines. Dennis Corcoran, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) safety and loss control director at the time, said it had been years, “if ever,” since Iowa had experienced such devastation over such a widespread area.
Pole after pole broke under the weight. Pioneer Lumber in Ankeny delivered 4,200 poles to Iowa’s electric cooperatives, with another 900 needed by generation and transmission cooperatives.
Wright County REC, now known as Prairie Energy Cooperative, was among the hardest hit. Nearly its entire system was wiped out and, at one point, every member was without electricity.
“When we started, we didn’t have any idea what we were getting into,” recalled Tom Stewart, the co-op’s member service manager at the time. It took approximately 13 days to completely restore service, with help from 13 Iowa electric cooperatives and a Missouri cooperative crew.
Glidden REC, now Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative, also suffered extensive damage. Former Manager Bruce Bailey estimated more than 250 poles were lost and more than 90% of the system was without power at some point. In the co-op’s November 1991 newsletter, Bailey called it the worst ice storm in its history and thanked members for their patience and support.
Corn Belt system takes a direct hit
George Toyne, general manager of Corn Belt Power Cooperative (Corn Belt Power) at the time, described it as the worst storm he could remember in the area. More than 30 Corn Belt Power substations were out of service on Nov. 1. About 300 transmission poles were broken and more than 50 others were leaning or pulled from the ground.
The storm also damaged a major 345-kV transmission line crossing Corn Belt Power’s service area. An aerial inspection found approximately 90 miles damaged, including 386 support towers. A preliminary estimate placed the cost of replacing the damaged line at $27 million.
Photos from the aftermath show damaged transmission structures, poles leaning along frozen roads and thick layers of ice coating electric equipment.
Cooperation in the cold
As cooperatives began restoring power, help arrived from across Iowa and neighboring states.
Through a statewide disaster plan coordinated by IAEC, crews came from unaffected Iowa cooperatives as well as Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois. IAEC staff coordinated assistance while line crews worked grueling 18-hour days in bitter conditions.
Wes Ehrecke, IAEC executive vice president at the time, witnessed the response firsthand. He said it was “rewarding to see the level of cooperation” from unaffected Iowa electric cooperatives and those in surrounding states.
During a lunch break, Wright County REC lineman Butch Norem was asked what kept him heading back into the cold.
“You know the people are cold,” he replied.
Kyle Moore, a lineman from Maquoketa Valley REC who came to help, summed up the mutual aid response: “That’s why it’s called a cooperative.”
Members and cooperative employees also found ways to support the restoration effort. One Wright County REC member donated a hog to feed workers. Members brought food and coffee. Employees opened their homes to visiting crews, washed their clothes and loaned personal vehicles. Retired cooperative employees returned to help patrol lines and guide visiting crews.
The legacy of the storm
Iowa would endure another catastrophic ice storm in February 2007. According to the National Weather Service, at least 265,000 customers were without power at its peak, significantly more than during the 1991 storm, and damage to utility equipment totaled $138 million.
The Halloween Ice Storm of 1991 remains one of Iowa’s most memorable ice storms 35 years later.
The storm is remembered for the extensive damage and difficult restoration conditions, as well as the employees who worked long hours, members who supported crews and cooperatives that sent help wherever it was needed.
Technology and equipment have advanced considerably since 1991, changing how electric cooperatives monitor their systems, respond to outages and restore power. But the fundamentals remain the same: dedicated employees, support from members and cooperatives helping one another when the need is greatest.
Do you have memories of the Halloween Ice Storm of 1991? Send them to me at editor@ieclmagazine.com.
Ann Foster Thelen is the editor of Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine.
