Hurricane-Strength Winds Knock Out Power, Down Trees, Scare Taste Crowds
More than 41,000 Joliet residences don't have electricity; a second line of storms is expected to move through later tonight, weather service says.
Photos
Videos
A fast-moving line of storms that produced hurricane-strength winds of 85 to 90 mph moved through the Joliet area shortly before 10 p.m., knocking out power to more than 41,000 homes, uprooting trees and wreaking havoc at the Taste of Joliet.
Information on the extent of damage throughout the area is still be assessed, but a Joliet Police Department watch commander said, "We have power outages all over," and there are reports of downed electrical wires and trees.
A second line of storms moved through the area at about 11 p.m. but was nowhere as severe as the ones seen earlier in the evening, National Weather Service meteorologist Gino Izzi said.
Although there have been reports of damage at the Taste of Joliet, Joliet Patch has not yet verified that other than in anecdotal stories of attendees fleeing for safety as the storm moved in. REO Speedwagon, the music headliner, ended its set early, and the festival was closed early as well because of forecast of more storms.
One report about the Ferris wheel tipping over, which appeared online, is not accurate.
ComEd spokeswoman Arlana Johnson said the Joliet-Romeoville-Plainfield area was the hardest hit in terms of power outages and downed lines.
Areas where there are known outages include Theodore and Essington, U.S. 6 and Briggs, Caton Farm Road and Interstate 55 and Caton Farm and Bronk Road.
Johnson said people should not go near downed power wires, even if they appear to be dead, and should report all outages by calling 1-800-Edison1 or texting OUT26633.
The storm also resulted in Joliet Slammers' game ending early, with the team taking a 7-4 loss against the Southern Illinois Miners.
Things became a bit chaotic, as team employees tried to put town a tarp to protect the field only to have it blow back on top of them. Had the corner not been held down by a small truck, it would have likely have blown into the stands. A Youtube video of the incident is attached to this article.
Here are notes posted on Joliet Patch Facebook and Romeoville Patch Facebook sites about personal storm experiences:
- Crystal Jensen My daughter went to see REO. I've been texting her and she said that it was so bad that the police were helping people climb over fences to get out. It felt like there was a tornado.
- Robyn Mccord-Dominguez It was short and sweet. Once the wind hit, the power went out immediately. I just went out and noticed my outdoor lights were blown off my house, along with some siding.
- Tina Williams I drove home in it... there were branches everywhere... not that you could see them until you were on top of them. That was nuts.
- Mary Gilliam Spiros My husband was bringing in the chair cushions when the big winds hit and watched our shed fall apart when the winds took the roof and one of the walls over the fence.
- Sue Gerard Palcis We drove through it. My mom large tree fell on their car and house.
In This article
-
City of Joliet
150 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL -
Plainfield Police Department
14300 Coil Plus Dr, Plainfield, IL -
United States Government National Weather Service Forecast Office
333 W University Dr, Romeoville, IL -
Kerry Dean
12:19 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
At one point UPI reports 4,000,000 powerless
alan
7:02 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Was crazy night and scary too was at taste of joliet when storm hit people running everywhere to take cover was pinned against fence could don't move till crowd thinned out on my way home I noticed fire from my neighborhood . My neighbor house had caught fire his dog was killed thank god everyone was safe at home other than a fried surge protector that saved my microwave .
Laura
10:07 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
that is very sad, glad you were ok. Very sorry for the family that lost their house and dog.
Debbie Craig Greene
8:05 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
There were no reports of injuries by the Police or Fire Department at the Taste of Joliet. The stage is still there and they are busy getting ready for Josh Turner. If you enter the stadium right now it is completely clean and ready to go again! Amazing job done by the night crew. The staff and volunteers were amazing last night as well as so many good samaritins helping others to safety and dry places to stand. Thank YOU to all of you who helped! Thank you Joliet Police Department and Joliet Fire Department! I was working at the VIP/Vendor entrance during the storm. Debbie Greene, Superinetendent Joliet Park District
Dee
10:04 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Maybe the VIP area received better response than the rest of us. There was no direction from Police or Staff on available Exits. Once the announcement was made to exit it was chaos! Being jammed against fences and trampled by a panicked crowd will keep me from returning to this Event. Joliet take a page from Rib Fest in Naperville. Wonderful you hit record numbers in Presale tickets- first indication you needed more staff on hand!
Karin Kuehl
11:00 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
We were at the R.E.O. concert and got seperated from our teenage daughter and friend. The biggest problem was lead singer saying we are going to cut the show short, but not yet, then literally 2 min later the head of the event takes mic from lead singer Kevin and says "everyone get out now! Get away from the stage and take cover!!" Thats going to cause panic and people being trampled (which we saw). Thank God no one was hurt. I thought this event was much better than Ribfest. Nice crowd. Nice volunteers. Just a very happy and safe environment prior to storm ending it. We will go back next year!
Dee
11:49 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Maybe the VIP area received better response than the rest of us. There was no direction from Police or Staff on available Exits. Once the announcement was made to exit it was chaos! Being jammed against fences and trampled by a panicked crowd will keep me from returning to this Event. Joliet take a page from Rib Fest in Naperville. Wonderful you hit record numbers in Presale tickets- first indication you needed more staff on hand!
MT
3:56 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
The ferris wheel did NOT tip over, that is accurately reported. What has been seriously ommitted is that a little girl of I would guess around the age of 9-11 slipped out of her seat in the ferris wheel and was fully unrestrained at the very top of the ride on the outside of the cart. She was clutching desparately to the cart she and her friend were in so as to not fall to her serious injury or death below. The whole crowd gazed above and shouted for her to hang on in tense anticipation as the carnival rider worked slowly, and methodically to systematacially lower her cart until she was safely able to reach the ground. WHERE IS THAT STORY AND WHY IS IT NOT REPORTED? Hello!? I guess it might actually inform folks and make them think twice about letting their kids ride this things and hurt your attendance and precious revenues. Sincerely, a Concerned Citizen and Fest Patron
tara666
3:25 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I dont think its about "thinking twice" about letting them ride it or lack of attendance from the guardians or who ever brought them @MT
Laura
10:11 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
OMGSH, you are right, why wasn't that reported on? I wonder sometimes. You never hear the truth in the media. They only report what they want to report
What happened to the little girl?
tara666
5:14 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
@MT: also did you consider how hard the winds were blowing that day?
James Smith
10:32 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Siren on tonight 2x ?
tara666
8:35 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
That girl is now living happily with her mom and sister