Clean-up efforts were continuing today following strong storms which swept through East Central Illinois and Western Indiana this morning (Thursday, May 23rd). The storm system uprooted trees, knocked down power poles and left thousands of area residents in the dark.
Ameren Illinois Power Company says that as of late this morning it still had more than 750 customers waiting to get power restored in the Danville, Hoopeston, Westville and Oakwood-Muncie area.
Illinois State Police say U.S. route 150 between Fithian and Muncie, and Illinois route 49 near 2000 North Road in northern Vermilion County had to be closed as power crews replaced downed poles.
The Oakwood Unit 76 School District cancelled classes (for Thursday) because of no power. And students who attend North Ridge Middle School, Edison Elementary School, and Liberty Elementary School in Danville were dismissed at 11 o’clock this morning because of power outages affecting the schools. Assistant Danville School Superintendent Beth Yacobi said teachers were riding the school busses to make sure students arrived home safely.
Ironically, the power came back on at both Edison and North Ridge as students were climbing on busses to head home. Since the early dismissal had already been announced, the rest of the school day was cancelled.
