Over 140,000 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 still grappling with 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. As of late Friday morning, she said city crews had not yet come by to clear the debris.

“They [ComEd] said the power would be back today, but I really doubt it,” said Young, 68.

More than 140,000 ComEd customers remained without power midday Friday after severe storms battered the city and surrounding suburbs. In Englewood, ComEd crews were seen working throughout the neighborhood, but it remained unclear when electricity would be fully restored.

Young 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,” said Young.

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.

Tornadoes ripped through communities just to the south, east and west of Chicago, and hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed.

At Chicago airports, at least 117 flights were canceled and at least 273 more were delayed at O’Hare, while at least five were canceled and 114 more delayed at Midway as of midday Friday.

Multiple tornadoes ripped through parts of Illinois and Indiana Thursday.

Communities in Northwest Indiana, including Merrillville, experienced extensive tornado damage. Suburban Bartlett and downstate communities 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.

A tornado warning was issued for Cook County after 8 p.m. Thursday and expired less than an hour later. Rainfall at O’Hare was 0.7 inches, while 0.88 inches was recorded at Midway, according to the weather service.

The storms created a several-hour delay for the beginning of the Mumford & Sons concert at Wrigley Field Thursday night.

The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn closed its doors Friday due to a power outage related to the storms.

“We know many of you were looking forward to visiting, and we’re just as disappointed to miss a day of play with you,” the museum said in a note online.

Weather-related power outages also closed operations at the Markham and Bridgeview courthouses and Branch Courts 35 and 38 at 727 E. 111th St., according to a news release.

As of 11:50 a.m., over 140,000 ComEd customers remained without power, according to the company’s outage map.

Friday’s forecast is expected to provide momentary relief, though 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 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.”