Severe Thunderstorms Trigger Massive ComEd Outage, Impacting 72,000 Chicago Area Customers

Thousands of ComEd customers across the Chicago area were left without power on Saturday as severe thunderstorms swept through the region. By 9:30 p.m., more than 68,000 customers were affected according to ComEd. The storms wreaked havoc, with winds reaching up to 60 miles per hour, causing widespread damage including downed power lines and snapped tree branches.

The impact of the storms was felt more acutely in certain areas. In DuPage and Cook counties, the strong winds disrupted essential services in cities like Aurora, where power outages affected water pumps and two fire stations, though the city managed to maintain its water supply. Similarly, in Mount Prospect, the roof of an apartment building was severely damaged, prompting the evacuation of residents after debris caused significant vehicle damage in a nearby parking lot.

In Cary, the Mayor declared a state of emergency in response to the power outages and extensive storm damage. This prompted local authorities to organize a brush pick-up effort to commence later in the month. Elsewhere, areas such as Romeoville experienced multiple downed electrical wires and trees. The severe weather also caused delays at O'Hare airport as incoming flights were disrupted.

Detailed outage reports indicated the following customer impacts: DuPage County had 357 customers without power, DeKalb County 461, Cook County 17,191, Kendall County 3,845, Lake County 1,923, McHenry County 11,893, and Will County 8,986. Of particular note were Boone and McHenry counties where thousands of residents experienced power loss. In Boone County, over 6,000 customers were without power, impacting multiple intersections in Belvidere.

ComEd outlined that restoration times are pending assessment, pointing to the complex nature of the disruptions. The outages extend into parts of northern Illinois, affecting areas like Winnebago, Stephenson, and Lee counties.

A storm that rolled through McHenry County caused considerable damage, tipping over trees and flooding streets, resulting in power outages from Freeport to Joliet. The storm, though non-tornadic according to meteorologists, was characterized by damaging straight-line winds.

As recovery efforts are underway, community response has been robust, with local authorities and residents rallying to clear roads and restore services. The village of Cary redeployed resources to manage storm aftermath, while Algonquin residents were advised to steer clear of hazardous areas. Traffic blockages have been mitigated where possible, as teams work to remove fallen trees and power lines. ComEd's outage map currently displays 642 active outages affecting 72,000 customers.

In Belvidere, the storm's aftermath left nearly 4,000 without power within the city limits, with additional outages in surrounding areas. The ongoing recovery includes managing unsafe intersections and coordinating with energy providers for the restoration of power.

Efforts to normalize situations in affected areas are ongoing, backed by both official and community-led clean-up initiatives. The extensive damage recorded raises concerns for the projected recovery timeline, though exact estimates from analysts remain forthcoming. Meanwhile, another line of storms appeared imminent, although not expected to match the severity of its predecessors, offering a cautious relief to affected residents.