FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 1/05/2010) Braving the bitter cold, Mayor AC Wharton went door to door checking on people who might be without utilities.
"All your neighbors alright. We just want to make sure," Wharton said to an older man in a home on Springdale.
It was a false alarm at the Springdale home, but Mayor Wharton says considering three deaths have occurred, this week, because of the cold snap, it's better to be safe than sorry.
"It's so much better to be wrong and safe than to miss somebody," explained Wharton.
Mayor Wharton's door to door checks are all because of a newly announced collaboration between the City of Memphis, Shelby County and MLGW.
They've decided to restore power to everyone who's been cut off, no matter how much they owe.
"We're glad the city and county stepped up," said MLGW spokesman Chris Stanley. "This will turn on the power for several hundred customers. It's going to be a way to keep them warm during these really, really cold temperatures."
Between December 1st and December 14th, city officials tell us 1,035 people had their utilities cut off.
From our travels with Mayor Wharton we found that not everyone on their list may need help.
For now city leaders say there's no limit to the financial aid.
"This is one of those times you have to put aside the fiscal impact of it and say this is the right thing to do," exclaimed Mayor AC Wharton.
As in the case of a woman who lives in the 1400 block of Wilson.
City leaders tell us, she still had electricity because her brother, who died recently, was on life support.
Problem is her gas had been cut off, forcing her to heat the house with space heaters which weren't adequate enough to warm the house for her and the four young boys she's raising.
" Their hands were as cold as ice, it was just horrible for anybody."
Mayor Wharton says he'll let the thermometer dictate how long the program will last.
If you need help call MLGW or the City or County Mayor's offices.
- City, County and MLGW team to turn on power for people, regardless of how much they owe
- City and County leaders say it's the right thing to do during the cold snap
- All you've got to do is call for help
(Memphis 1/05/2010) Braving the bitter cold, Mayor AC Wharton went door to door checking on people who might be without utilities.
"All your neighbors alright. We just want to make sure," Wharton said to an older man in a home on Springdale.
It was a false alarm at the Springdale home, but Mayor Wharton says considering three deaths have occurred, this week, because of the cold snap, it's better to be safe than sorry.
"It's so much better to be wrong and safe than to miss somebody," explained Wharton.
Mayor Wharton's door to door checks are all because of a newly announced collaboration between the City of Memphis, Shelby County and MLGW.
They've decided to restore power to everyone who's been cut off, no matter how much they owe.
"We're glad the city and county stepped up," said MLGW spokesman Chris Stanley. "This will turn on the power for several hundred customers. It's going to be a way to keep them warm during these really, really cold temperatures."
Between December 1st and December 14th, city officials tell us 1,035 people had their utilities cut off.
From our travels with Mayor Wharton we found that not everyone on their list may need help.
For now city leaders say there's no limit to the financial aid.
"This is one of those times you have to put aside the fiscal impact of it and say this is the right thing to do," exclaimed Mayor AC Wharton.
As in the case of a woman who lives in the 1400 block of Wilson.
City leaders tell us, she still had electricity because her brother, who died recently, was on life support.
Problem is her gas had been cut off, forcing her to heat the house with space heaters which weren't adequate enough to warm the house for her and the four young boys she's raising.
" Their hands were as cold as ice, it was just horrible for anybody."
Mayor Wharton says he'll let the thermometer dictate how long the program will last.
If you need help call MLGW or the City or County Mayor's offices.
