Severe storms swept through the south and southwest suburbs Thursday night, causing property damage, widespread power outages and displacing a family in Robbins after a tree fell on their home.
Deputy fire Chief Chris Bollinger said crews were assessing storm damage and responding to calls about downed trees when they discovered a large tree had collapsed onto a home on Hamlin Avenue in Robbins, causing the roof to cave in. No injuries were reported, but the family was forced to stay with relatives due to the extent of the damage, he said.
While the National Weather Service confirmed no tornadoes touched down, the area was hit with high winds and hail. Multiple towns issued alerts urging residents to take shelter during the storms.
Lisa Kortum, director of emergency management and 911 communications for Tinley Park, said the roof over an office building on the southeast side of High Point Residence Tinley Park, a senior living center on Brementowne Road, collapsed, but no residents were forced to relocate and no injuries were sustained.
About 4,500 residents in Tinley Park lost power during the storms, and just over 900 were still without electricity as of Friday, Kortum said. The village also saw around 50 downed trees, she said.
ComEd spokesperson John Schoen said in the utility’s territory, which encompasses most of northern Illinois, about 103,000 customers lost power during the storms. As of Friday morning, about 23,000 customers remained without power, mostly in the southern region of ComEd’s territory, Schoen said.
The Manhattan Fire Protection District said much of the village remained without power Friday morning, and crews are working to clear downed trees, branches and scattered debris.
Manhattan Elementary District 114 announced an emergency closure due to power outages. The closures affected Wilson Creek Elementary, Anna McDonald School, Manhattan Intermediate and Manhattan Junior High.
In Tinley Park, the village’s Public Safety Department said the storms caused downed power lines and trees, and several water main breaks. Traffic lights were out at 171st Street and 80th Avenue, as well as 171st and Harlem Avenue, following the storm, the village said.
“Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution when removing fallen trees to avoid contact with downed power lines,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Please be patient as Public Works crews prioritize clearing trees and branches from roadways.”
The Will County Emergency Management Agency said more than 50 cooling centers are open across the county, with many residents still without power and temperatures expected to reach the mid-80s.
Allison Anderson, director of the Will County Emergency Management Agency, said Braidwood, Manhattan, Wilmington and Crete were among the hardest-hit areas. Emergency management crews spent Thursday night directing traffic near downed power lines in the towns. The department did not received any reports of injuries or fatalities as a result of the storms, she said.
Harvey, Dolton and Hazel Crest sustained some damage, including downed trees and branches, officials said.
In Robbins, Bollinger said that aside from the one heavily damaged home, most of the storm’s impact was minor, with damage limited to downed trees and power lines, and much of the debris was cleared Thursday. Sean Howard, a spokesperson for several municipalities in the Southland, said both Blue Island and Robbins had power fully restored by noon.
The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security monitored storm activity overnight and deployed staff to assess damage in affected communities, said Caitlin McElroy, a public information officer for the department. Several municipalities reported downed trees, fallen limbs and power lines requiring response from local crews, she said.
Staff continues to work with municipalities to determine whether any significant structural damage occurred, McElroy said. The county will continue checking in with municipalities throughout the day to provide support and identify any unmet needs.
The National Weather Service had issued a tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning for several counties in Illinois and northwest Indiana. Warnings cautioned of wind gusts reaching more than 80 mph and golf-ball sized hail. Temperatures reached 92 degrees at O’Hare International Airport, where Chicago’s official temperature is recorded, Thursday afternoon, topping the previous May 15 record high of 91, set in 1962, according to the National Weather Service.
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