Clean-Up Efforts Continue Following Monday's Derecho Storm

Press release from the City of Oak Forest:

Posted on: August 13, 2020

The recent fast moving derecho storm that swept through Oak Forest on Monday, August 10, left many residences and businesses without power. ComEd crews are working day and night to restore power to our area. In fact, they have now restored power to over 2,000 households or 40% of those affected by the storm. ComEd estimates power to all residences should be restored within a day or two.

As a word of caution: even though the power is off, stay away from electrical wires or equipment. It is always better to be careful.

Anyone encountering a downed power line is urged to immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON, that’s 1-800-334-7661 and report the location.

Receive Outage Alerts on Your Mobile PhoneComEd has instituted a two-way text messaging capability that allows customers to text their outage to ComEd and enables ComEd to text restoration information back to customers.The expanded outage alert text message program will provide added convenience for customers and help improve their experience. The new program enhancements:

• Allow customers to text the company to report an outage,
• Offer real-time information on outages, and
• Allow customers to text ComEd to opt into the program.
• To report an outage, customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED)

Sign up at: https://www.comed.com/customer-service/outage-information/Pages/outage-alerts.aspx

ComEd also offers the following suggestions for customers experiencing a prolonged outage:

• Turn off all appliances including your furnace, water heater, and water pump.
• Leave a lamp on so you can know when power has been restored.
• Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed and open them only when necessary. Food can stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer, if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer can generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.
• Customers who are on medical support equipment are strongly encouraged to evacuate to a place where they can be comfortable and safe.

Oak Forest Public Works Update

The City’s Public Works Department continues to monitor this situation with branch pick-up throughout the community. Please be patient! It will take some time for our crews to pick-up branches throughout Oak Forest and even more time to make sure the streets are swept.

Click here for more information on the Public Works Clean-Up Efforts.

This press release was produced by the City of Oak Forest . The views expressed here are the author’s own.