PEORIA, Ill. — A series of severe thunderstorms ripped Saturday night through Central Illinois, leaving in its wake a myriad of downed trees and power lines.
“Our crews are out surveying the damage and seeing what the extent of it is so they can make some determinations on how quickly they can get things repaired,” said Tucker Kennedy, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Ameren Illinois.
“33,000 customers are out throughout our territory and about 12,000 are out in Peoria Metro.”
Winds gusted up to 60 MPH.
An eyewitness told WMBD a large maple tree fell onto power lines on Glen Oak in Peoria’s East Bluff, knocking out power for many and blocking traffic in the area of Atlantic and Spring. Another tree was reportedly down on Prospect.
Kennedy said crews were still assessing the damage late into Saturday night, and it would likely not be until Sunday power would be restored for most customers.
He had a word of caution for people in areas with downed power lines.
“Especially in the dark and with the wet and with foliage around, it’s just critical people do not go outside and start looking around for damaged infrastructure, because that’s very dangerous,” he said.
“As critical, don’t get out of your car. You can quickly create a path to ground and become energized.
“If a wire comes down and is near your car or on your car, the number one thing to do is stay in the car.”
National Weather Service spotters early in the evening indicated tennis ball-sized hail in the Bartonville area.
Multiple reports of golf ball- and quarter-sized hail trickled in throughout the duration of the storm, as well.
There were no reports of any tornadic activity.
