| Storm type | Freezing rain and ice storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 25th, 2009 |
| Dissipated | January 30th, 2009 |
| Maximum amount | 2.5 inches (ice); 13 inches (snow)* |
| Lowest pressure | 1008 mbar (hPa) [1] |
| Lowest temperature | −35°F (−37.2°C) wind chill in Michigan; −22°F (−30°C) air temperature in Minnesota |
| Damages | At least $125 million |
| Fatalities | 65 (35 in KY) |
| Areas affected | parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky |
| ^* Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | |
The January 2009 ice storm was a major ice storm that occurred over parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The storm produced widespread power outages for over 2 million people due to heavy ice accumulation. The hardest hit areas were in Western Kentucky with over 500,000 residences without power during the height of the storm, including 100,000 without power for over one week, and northern Arkansas, with 300,000 residences without power. This ice storm killed 65 people nation-wide, 35 in Kentucky.[2] Most deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning due to power generators or kerosene heaters being used indoors without proper ventilation. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear called up the entire Kentucky Army National Guard to deal with the after effects of this storm, the largest National Guard call up in that state's history. [3]
Emergency response teams from NRWA state affiliates, including the Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Missouri and Florida rural water associations provided portable generators and technical assistance to maintain the water supply in the impacted areas.[4][5]