More than 10,000 still without power after Central Illinois storm

Power lines were down, roads were blocked and thousands of homes were still dark in the hours after tornadoes tore through central Illinois, leaving Charleston and Decatur at the center of a widening recovery effort. By June 18, more than 10,000 people were still without power as crews worked through scattered outages and damage left by the June 17 storm system.

Ameren Illinois’ outage map showed 5,850 customers without power in the Decatur area and 2,658 near Charleston. Additional outages stretched between Kansas and Westfield, west of Macon, in the Effingham area and east of Mt. Zion. Some overnight restoration had already taken place, and the utility’s map no longer showed widespread outages in Bulpitt, Kincaid, Sharpsburg, Warrensburg, Taylorville and Montrose.

For Morgan County readers, the storm was a reminder that the same line of severe weather that rattled west-central Illinois and Jacksonville-area alerts had produced a regional recovery problem, not just a passing thunderstorm. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois said the outbreak brought several tornadoes, wind gusts up to around 80 mph, hail as large as 3 inches in diameter and localized flash flooding, with the main line pushing across central Illinois mainly north of I-72 and between the I-72 and I-70 corridors.

Charleston declared a local state of emergency on the evening of June 17 after the storm knocked down power lines and trees and left multiple roadways covered in debris. City officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel so emergency personnel, utility crews and public works staff could work safely, and they told people to stay away from downed power lines and monitor City of Charleston and Coles County Emergency Management Agency updates.

The storm’s damage also hit schools and businesses. WCIA reported that Charleston Middle School had roof damage and a flooded gym, while Eastern Illinois University closed campus on Thursday. IPM News reported that a tornado touched down in Coles County around 7:15 p.m., with damage to roofs, trees and power lines, and damage at the Charleston Walmart. Charleston Community Unit School District No. 1 canceled Thursday summer school and meals.

Ameren said the hardest hit areas after the June 17 storm line were Decatur, Mattoon and Charleston. In places where lights had not come back on, the next stretch of recovery depended on crews clearing debris, repairing poles and restoring service street by street.