Apartment complex missing roof, many without power after storm hits St. Clair County
An apartment complex is missing its roof, many residents were without power and a portion of Illinois 159 was closed after a severe thunderstorm hit St. Clair County on Friday night.
The county emergency management agency was out assessing the damage Saturday morning, according to Director Herb Simmons. He said the agency had not received any reports of injuries from the storm.
Simmons said the hardest hit areas were in the southern part of the county, including Millstadt, Smithton, Freeburg, New Athens and St. Libory. The storm also hit East St. Louis hard.
The roof was blown off of an apartment complex in the 1600 block of State Street in East St. Louis, according to Simmons. He said displaced families were seeking shelter at City Hall. A cooling site was also established at the public library, 5700 State Street, according to the emergency management agency.
The entire village of Millstadt was without power and could be for some time, Simmons said. Ameren reported to the emergency management agency that a substation might have been hit by lightning. Simmons noted that many power lines are down as well.
He said a portion of Illinois 159 in Smithton shut down in both directions after the storm because of the extensive damage to power lines. The closure is in the 500 block of South Main/Illinois 159. Simmons said it could be reopened Saturday or Sunday. Detours will be marked.
Updates and information about cooling shelters will be posted on the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency’s Facebook page.
This story was originally published July 1, 2023 at 10:51 AM.
