Storm wreaks havoc with 33 tornadoes and widespread outages

In a recent city council meeting, officials addressed the aftermath of a severe storm that struck Calumet City, resulting in significant damage and widespread power outages. Chief of Staff Deanne Jeffrey presented a report from ComEd detailing the storm's impact, which included 33 confirmed tornadoes and wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour. The storm also unleashed 22,000 lightning strikes and heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving up to six inches.

The storm affected approximately 15,900 of Calumet City's 16,199 customers, with the primary causes of power interruptions attributed to weather-related issues (60%) and tree-related problems (27%). Restoration efforts were swift, with ComEd reporting an 80% restoration rate by Wednesday morning, increasing to 99% by Saturday afternoon.

In response to the outages, ComEd set up a support station at the local library, providing water and charging stations for residents. However, as of Sunday, nine addresses remained without power, four of which required residents to complete repairs before service could be restored.

City officials emphasized the importance of community involvement in storm preparedness and response, as residents called for more proactive measures from the city government, including tree removal from private properties. The meeting underscored the need for ongoing dialogue between residents and city officials to enhance future storm response strategies.