4,300 Residents Still Without Power In Oak Lawn

OAK LAWN, IL — Buy some candles and kerosene for your camping lamps, and maybe a generator, because it looks like it may take Commonwealth Edison a few days to retore power in some sections of Oak Lawn.

The destructive derecho storm that tore through the Chicago-area and northeastern Illinois brought 80-mph wind gusts on Monday, leaving 700,000 without power and widespread tree and structural damage.

>>> Power Could Be Out Until Until Saturday, ComEd Warns Customers

As of Tuesday, Commander Art Clark, the emergency management services coordinator for the Oak Lawn Police Department, said 4,000 residents remain without power. According to the utility’s outage map, some residents’ power may not be restored until Saturday, Aug. 15.

“This is going to be a multi-day restoration event,” Clark said. “There is massive damage and not enough crews to restore power.”

Clark said ComEd is contracting out-of-state crews to come in and help with restoring power. Oak Lawn residents have reported issues getting through to the utility’s toll-free number to get service updates because the system is overwhelmed.

Most of the downed trees and branches blocking streets have been removed, except for an uprooted tree that was still blocking the streets near 103rd Street and Minnick Avenue.

Residents are asked to check on their elderly or disabled neighbors to see if there is anything they need while without power. Also, due to the uptick of ruse burglaries in Oak Lawn, residents should beware of shady contractors offering to help with repairs on their property, or posing as utility workers who claim they need to come into the house to check services.

Residents who observe suspicious persons or activity in their neighborhoods, should call 911 immediately. Do not let anyone into your home that you did not call or request to come.