Thousands in metro-east lose power during severe thunderstorm

Belleville News-Democrat
·2 min read

Thousands of metro-east residents lost power as a severe thunderstorm hit the region late Saturday afternoon.

Ameren Illinois’ outage map showed the following figures around 7 p.m.:

  • Granite City area: 4,385 people without power

  • East Alton, Wood River area: 3,063 people

  • Collinsville area: 2,948 people

  • Fairview Heights area: 1,789 people

  • Belleville, Swansea area: 1,424 people

  • Columbia area: 1,287 people

  • Worden, Hamel area: 1,027 people

The National Weather Service warned of damaging winds and quarter-sized hail in Saturday’s storm.

A wind gust of 80 mph was recorded at St. Louis Lambert International Airport just before 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service St. Louis office.

The agency issued a phone alert for the storm that stated: “Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter.”

Reports of storm damage

At 6:45 p.m., the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency shared a list of at least eight roads with debris from the storm:

  • Scott Troy Road at Weil Road

  • North Illinois Street at East Brookhaven

  • Mine Haul Road at Frank Scott Parkway

  • 8300 block of Triple Lakes Road

  • Hemlock Drive, Belleville

  • Reider Road, Lebanon

  • Beth Road, O’Fallon

  • 300 block of Old Collinsville Road

County road crews were working to clear the debris, according to the agency.

The Lebanon Emerald Mound Fire Department also reported a road, Harmon Drive, was closed around 6:15 p.m. due to a downed tree limb and power line.

“No way in or out at this time, and no ETA on Ameren Electric to get here, they are very busy as you might imagine,” the fire department wrote in a message to the community. “Thanks for your patience.”

Wires were down across the county, including in Lebanon, Mascoutah, Marissa, New Athens, O’Fallon, Fairview Heights, Swansea, Belleville, East St. Louis, Caseyville, Dupo, East Carondelet, Cahokia Heights, Fairmont City and Washington Park, according to the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.

Elsewhere in the metro-east, the Washington County Emergency Management Agency reported a railroad gate was down, possibly caused by the storm. The gate is located at 7871 U.S 51 in Ashley.

The emergency management agency urged drivers to use caution when crossing the railroad tracks while the gate is not working.