Severe storms damage buildings and leave thousands without power in downtown Joliet

In Joliet, Illinois, a severe storm on Sunday morning caused widespread damage, leaving thousands without power and impacting local landmarks such as the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum and The Forge. The CEO of the museum, Ron Romero, expressed devastation over the damage to the building, which is constructed with sturdy materials but still suffered significant impact from the storm. Witnesses like Roy Wickiser at The Forge described debris flying and a close call with a metal bar crashing through a window, highlighting the intensity of the storm's impact. The City of Joliet experienced strong wind gusts, thunder, and lightning during the storm, which led to downed trees, power outages, and structural damage to buildings in the area. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Will County, affecting Joliet and surrounding areas like Lockport and New Lenox. Wind speeds reached up to 70 mph, causing the roof of the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum to be torn off and significant damage to The Forge in downtown Joliet. Joliet police reported that large portions of the east and central areas of the city were heavily affected by the storm, with road closures and blocked areas due to fallen trees and debris. The storm also caused power outages, with approximately 175 reported outages affecting nearly 12,000 customers in the area, according to ComEd. Despite the extensive damage, there were no reported injuries from the storm as of Sunday morning, providing some relief amid the cleanup and recovery efforts in Joliet. Residents and business owners in Joliet are now focused on rebuilding and restoring the affected areas following the storm. The community is coming together to assess the damage, clear debris, and address the power outages to ensure safety and recovery in the aftermath of the severe weather event. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as the cleanup process progresses in Joliet, emphasizing the resilience and unity of the community in facing natural disasters.