Storm leaves behind path of damage in Joliet

JOLIET, Ill. — Some Joliet residents are in the dark after an intense storm caused significant damage to parts of the city on Sunday morning.

City officials said the storm downed trees, caused some damage to the downtown area and left many residents without power.

Police said in a post on X on Sunday morning that large portions of east and central Joliet sustained significant damage. Because of the fallen trees and debris, several roadways were blocked or closed to traffic.

Around 1 p.m., officers provided an update indicating that roadways near Cass Street and Chicago Street remained closed amid the ongoing cleanup efforts. Authorities said the closures in the area are expected to last “for a significant amount of time.”

According to Greg Ruddy from the Joliet Director of Public Works, city officials have mobilized roadway crews and are “assessing the damage to city infrastructure.”

“The crews are still focusing on clearing roadways so emergency vehicles can have access,” Ruddy said in a news release on Sunday morning. “Once all roads are cleared, Public Works will return to handle tree limbs/trees from city parkways. This process may take several days so we ask for continued patience from residents as our staff performs work in the area.”

Photos provided by city officials show debris strewn across the road in the downtown area.

Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

In an update around 9 p.m., city officials said they expect to have roads across the city fully cleared for the Monday morning commute.

“Crews are continuing to clear debris from the roads. All roadways we are aware of have been or will be cleared by the morning,” Ruddy said.

According to the ComEd Outage map , around 500 customers in the area were without power as of 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

City officials said residents who come across downed of sparking power lines are advised to clear the area and report it to ComEd by calling 1-800-334-7661.

City officials advise residents to visit the city’s website for the latest updates.

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