Wild weather downs trees, disrupts power

Areas of the county still were without electricity this morning following thunderstorms and high winds Monday night.

Alan Radcliffe, county emergency management director, said he will survey damage today from storms that swept through the county after 10 p.m. Monday. Crews are working today to clear areas with tree damage, he said.

The sheriff’s department was working the scene of a car stranded in minor flooding this morning on Texas Road between Shawnee and Stafford roads, Undersheriff Steve Lunger said.

No one appeared to be in the vehicle, he said.

Radcliffe said most of the area saw high winds with 50 mph in Pomona; 50 to 60 mph in Ottawa; 60 to 70 mph in Richmond; and 60 to 70 mph in Rantoul. Fire departments responded to several calls throughout the county and some areas remained without electricity this morning, he said.

A report from rural fire departments shows calls about power lines at Texas and Ellis roads and Texas and Allen roads.

Jeff Oleson, assistant director of utilities for Ottawa, said wind damage took out about 15 percent of electricity in Ottawa, and some houses still were without electricity this morning.

“They’ve restored the majority of customers and have continued working throughout the night to restore individual customers as they can,” he said about utility crews.

Oleson said the area south of the Marais des Cygnes River and east of Main Street was hit the most in Ottawa. Power in the Industrial Park was restored within an hour, while the south and east parts of Ottawa were restored at about 2 a.m.

A number of tree limbs fell on power lines, and some poles were broken, he said.

Crews will make at least two complete rounds of cleanup around Ottawa and hope to be completed by July 2, a news release from the city’s public works department said.

Residents are encouraged to stack limbs parallel and close to the street curb. Collections cannot be made in alleys.  

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.