More than 100,000 ComEd customers still without power after severe storms

Bertha Young sat on her front porch, staring at a tree that had fallen in front of her home. Despite the damage surrounding her, she felt grateful the tree had not struck her house.

Along 71st and Green streets, fallen trees and large branches blocked roadways and covered the front steps of several homes. Nearby, cars sat with smashed windows and light poles had been knocked to the ground as residents looked at the damage left behind by the storms.

Young was one of hundreds of Englewood residents facing the aftermath of two days of severe storms. Her power went out Thursday afternoon, and a fallen tree blocked both her front steps and her designated handicap parking spot late Friday morning.

There were about 10,000 reports to the city of trees either downed or damaged or leaving debris, blocking hundreds of streets.

More than 100,000 ComEd customers remained without power early Friday evening after severe storms battered the city and surrounding suburbs. The number was more than 150,000 customers without electricity that morning and utility workers were expected to work throughout the night, according to a company spokesman.

Young, 68, said she had to rush out and buy a generator to keep her refrigerator and freezer running and prevent her food from spoiling. She said the purchase cost just under $700, consuming most of her disability check.

“I can’t afford to lose money on food, too,” she said.

A few houses over, Darlene Blackburn, 84, said she would spend the night at her relative’s home if the power wasn’t back up and running by nightfall.

A block away, near 70th and Green streets, a tree blocked the road, forcing cars to back up and turn around. Neighbors said the tree fell over Wednesday afternoon and no one had been by to move it despite countless 311 calls.

“This should’ve been a priority, don’t you think?” said Brian Gibbons, 58.

Severe storms hammered the city and surrounding areas Wednesday and Thursday, leaving a mess Friday.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said that city crews will work around the clock after receiving thousands of 311 calls, many asking for help removing debris and downed trees.

Cleanup is expected to continue into next week. Many homes and cars were damaged by fallen trees, though city officials didn’t have numbers.

“We want to extend our thoughts and prayers to those across Chicagoland and the entire communities that have been impacted by this storm,” Johnson said at a news conference in Chatham. “During moments like these, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of our region and the importance of coming together to rebuild and support one another. “

Residents who suffered damages from the storm are being asked by the city to fill out a survey.

Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at O’Hare and Midway airports Friday.

Tornadoes ripped through areas to the south, east and west of Chicago Thursday.

Communities in Northwest Indiana, including Merrillville, experienced extensive tornado damage. Suburban Bartlett and downstate municipalities of Dwight and Streator were among the hardest areas hit by the storms in Illinois.

In Chicago, high winds downed trees and caused much destruction. Average wind speeds were reported at 60 to 70 miles an hour in the Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service. In some places they were even more intense. Wind speeds reached 85 miles per hour in Oak Lawn, for instance.

Many ComEd customers remained without power, according to the company’s outage map.

More severe storms are possible Saturday.

“It’s going to be mostly sunny skies, nothing like the past couple days,” said Brett Borchardt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “With that said, we are forecasting more storms [Saturday]. Some of those could be severe, however, we’re not expecting anything close to what we experienced the past couple days.”

The extreme weather follows a very wet spring. Rainfall in April set records, causing some flooding.