Thousands of ComEd customers around the Chicago area are without power amid an outbreak of severe weather Saturday.<\/p>\n
As of 9:30 p.m., more than 68,000 customers were without power, according to ComEd.<\/p>\n
A series of severe thunderstorms moved across the Chicago area Saturday afternoon, causing thousands of power outages and damage throughout the region.<\/p>\n
In counties around the Chicago area, including DuPage and Cook County, winds roared through at up to 60 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n
The strong gusts downed power lines and snapped tree branches across the region.<\/p>\n
Several city facilities in Aurora lost power from the storms, including water pumps and two fire stations, officials said. The city’s ability to provide clean water to Aurora residents was not impacted. <\/p>\n
In Mount Prospect, residents of an apartment building were evacuated after the building’s roof was ripped to shreds<\/a> by the severe storms. Debris from the roof went flying into a nearby parking lot, crushing numerous vehicles.<\/p>\n The Mayor of the Village of Cary declared a state of emergency due to power outages and severe damage caused by the storms. The village will be conducting brush pick up the week of Aug. 25, according to officials. <\/p>\n There were several downed electrical wires and trees in Romeoville, authorities said. <\/p>\n