March 3 Storm Damage

Fairway Avenue

 Randy Spaugh

(WAND)- Several central Illinois residents are currently without power due to the high winds and storm damage.

WAND has received several reports in regard to branches, trees, and poles down throughout the streets of Decatur, and reports of power outages.

E. Pershing in Decatur was shut down Friday afternoon by police due to downed power lines. 

A semi is partially blocking the left lane of Interstate 74 Westbound near milepost 178 in Champaign County. As of 1:30 p.m. a tow was on its way. Traffic is backed up, and drivers are told to avoid the area if possible. 

The semi was removed from the lane just before 2 p.m. It still needed to be removed from the median. 

An overturned semi is blocking the left lane of I-57 North at Milepost 219 according to the Illinois State Police. ISP recommends seeking an alternative route if possible.

As of 5:20 p.m., ISP reports that the semi has been cleared and all lanes are open.

March 3 Storm Damage Gallery

Multiple Ameren crews are working to restore power to their customers.

As of 2 p.m. Ameren reported 4,000 customers were without power. 2,000 of those customers are in the Rochester area. Restoration time is unknown.  

To view a map of power outages in your area visit https://outagemap.ameren.com/

According to Springfield City Water, Light and Power, 1,500 customers are currently without power. The largest outage area includes 800 customers located south of Madison/Jefferson Streets and in the area from Sacred Heart-Griffin to MacArthur Boulevard where a large tree limb is down on a wire in the area of Monroe and Illinois Streets. 

A second area affecting over 600 customers includes Westchester neighborhood and the Seven Pines/Westbrook Apartments area going east to approximately Gaines Mill Road.

Crews and our Electric Dispatch have been working hard at getting power restored to the multiple areas impacted by power outages today. Crews have been able to restore power to approximately 900 customers since the start of the outages before noon today. Strong winds have been the major factors causing trouble.

Current outage count is at 2,300 customers.

A new outage that began after 2 p.m. is affecting over 1,300 customers in an area east of 12th St to Groth St approximately between Ash and Cook.

Repair work is continuing at the Westchester and Seven Pines/Westbrook area outage where crews expect to have all customers picked up by 3:30 pm.

Other large outage areas include:

353 – E. Hazel Dell St. going S to N of UIS and along S. 11th St.

213 -- W. Washington St. to W. Edwards St. between N. Lincoln Ave. and S. Douglas St. (caused by tree limb

181 – W. Laurel St. to W. Lenox Ave. between S. Pasfield St. and S. Whittier Ave.

114 – W. Edwards St. to W. Canedy St. between S Glenwood Ave. and S State St.

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