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POWERLINE DOWN — After Thursday afternoon’s storm, power lines were down at many points in the city. Cleveland Utilities’ Barry Marshall and Blake Shelton work to restore the line on Oakland Drive. Photo is courtesy of Cleveland Utilities and Jamie Creekmore.
According to 911 reports, traffic signals snarled traffic until Cleveland Utilities crews could restore power to a number of areas affected by the storm, which cooled the air down from a 96-degree high temperature for the day.
Two structure fires were reported.
A fire on Whisperwood Trail was doused by the Cleveland Fire Department.
As firefighters arrived on the scene, they reported smoke coming from the attic of the structure which had possibly been struck by lightning.
Violent lightning and thunder were prominent throughout the duration of the storm.
Traffic along Paul Huff Parkway, 25th, Keith and Inman streets was reportedly backed up due to traffic controls being down.
Utility lines were reported down on Wynwood Drive as well as other locations.
Minor street flooding was also evident.
Election Day campaigners ran for cover at Stuart School as a large tree fell across the roadway. It did not block the driveway for voters. Limbs and brush were scattered along the streets in the city.
Law enforcement and medical personnel also responded to a two-vehicle crash on Red Hill Valley Road where two people reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to reports.
A band of severe thunderstorms passing through Bradley County Tuesday afternoon caused a power outage among 4,000 Volunteer Energy Cooperative customers, according to VEC reports.
The local utility also suffered lightning damage to four substations.
In Bradley County, VEC customers in the Tasso area lost power from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The outage was caused by lightning damage.
About 4,500 VEC customers in Cumberland County were impacted, as well 3,000 in McMinn County.
In addition to the lightning strike damage to VEC substations, hundreds of customers scattered throughout the utility’s service area also lost power. Lightning and high winds that brought down power poles, trees and limbs into power lines were to blame.
VEC Vice President of Operations Clyde Jolly said crews restored power to all affected customers by about midnight.
