All power restored after severe thunderstorm

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Brian Kimbrell, a resident in the Southridge subdivision, cleaned up the subdivision’s entrance after a fallen cable line and trees blocked the entrance as a result of Saturday's severe thunderstorm. Progress photo by Marivel Resendiz

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July 24, 2012

All power restored after severe thunderstorm

Marivel Resendiz Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Tue Jul 24, 2012, 11:06 AM CDT

JACKSONVILLE — Fallen tree limbs, power lines and poles surrounded Jacksonville after a severe thunderstorm passed through the area Saturday afternoon.

City officials are cleaning up the remaining debris on the streets, right of ways and alleys. Charles Hill, local area manager with Oncor, said there were less than 100 customers without electricity by 5 p.m. on Monday. Hill said all power was restored by late evening Monday.

“We had a lot of damages — broken poles and wires down — but everything is back up and running now,” he said.

On Saturday night a majority of businesses down U.S. Highway 69, including Walmart, hotels and Chili's, were out of electricity after a lightening struck a power grid.

Food Fast convenience store, on the corner of Larissa Street and Highway 69, was one of the few gas stations with electricity and cars were lined up at the gas pump and occupied parking spaces surrounding the store.

McDonald's and Taco Bell were also one of the few restaurants with electricity on Saturday and residents were parking across the street after every parking space was taken.

Electricity in central Jacksonville was out until 4 a.m. on Sunday, The traffic light on the intersection of Austin and Rusk streets was out until Sunday afternoon.

The city sent out a CodeRED at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday notifying residents that nearly 3,000 residents remained without electricity.

City and Oncor officials worked through Monday restoring electricity and cleaning debris.

Will Cole, public works director, said after hurricanes Katrina, Ike and Rita, this storm was not anything new to the crew.

“We have a lot of tree damage during the hurricanes so this is pretty standard stuff for us,” he said. “We're still in the process of cleaning and city crews are collecting that right now.”

Some residents took the cleanup into the own hands, understanding city officials were busy cleaning up other damages.

Brian Kimbrell, a resident in the Southridge subdivision, cleaned up some of the tree debris surrounding his home and even cleaned up the street.

A fallen tree had knocked down a power cable and the street sign into the subdivision's entrace. Those residents were using the exit to enter the subdivision.

“People were trying to get two cars into one road at the same time and it could get dangerous,” he said. “I thought since I was cleaning up the trees in my neighbor's yard, I would come clean (the entrance) too.”

Cole said the city is prioritizing the cleanup by the most damaged areas to minor ones. He said with the citywide cleanup slated for Saturday, residents will have an opportunity to take tree limbs to the landfill free of charge.

“If anyone sees tree limbs in the street or alleys, they can call it in and we'll send someone out there to clean it up,” he said.

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All power restored after severe thunderstorm

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