Clean up and power restoration are still ongoing after the powerful storm that swept through Central Illinois on Thursday. Ameren Illinois reports that a total of some 225 thousand customers had their power interrupted since the intense storm hit.
As of Sunday, there were still thousands of customers without power in the Ameren service area. Some 60 percent of the customers in Oakwood were still in the dark on Sunday evening. The number was 43 percent in Catlin, Danville still had 27 percent of customers without power, Fithian had almost 50 percent and Georgetown was at 23 percent.
Eastern Illinois Electrical Coop also has been working to restore service. It estimated some 45 hundred customers without service at one point.
Ameren said a total of 2,800 workers are working in restoration efforts, including resources from 12 nearby states and representing 34 different contractor companies.
Officials are still struggling to clear trees from roads and yards. What made it especially difficult was that many of the downed trees had power lines wrapped in them. The lines had to be removed by the power company before the tree limbs could be removed. The storm also destroyed many power poles. Ameren said about 12 hundred poles were damaged or destroyed.
Many businesses still have limited or no power. Due to power outages Danville School District 118 Summer School will not be in session Monday. Custodians and Maintenance workers should report.
Storm cleanup work can involve hazards. To keep these operations safe, authorities urge people to assume all power lines are live and keep a safe distance. Wear proper clothing when walking on near debris. Be careful of sharp objects such as nails and broken glass. Take proper safety precautions when operating generators, chainsaws, or other power tools. The area is experiencing high heat and high humidity, so limit the time spent working outdoors to prevent overheating.
Special cleanup efforts are being made to help residents. The Village of Tilton Public Works facility will be accepting limbs and trees. This is for Limbs/Trees only, if any other items are dumped it will be considered illegal dumping, this facility is highly surveillance with cameras.
The City of Danville Public Works will be allowing all city residents to haul storm debris out to the yard waste site at no charge. Residents must stop by the Public Works facility at 1155 E. Voorhees to receive a ticket for the yard waste site.
The Danville Public Works Department will also have a special storm debris collection event. Collection of storm debris will begin on Monday, with the final collection day being Thursday, July 13th. Limbs, branches and storm-related debris will be collected. Residents MUST CALL public works at 217-431-2288 to report addresses with storm debris for collection. The City will not collect debris if the address has not been called in.
