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Jacksonville businesses lose power after storms snap utility pole, potential funnel cloud spotted

Jacksonville businesses lose power after storms snap utility pole, potential funnel cloud spotted

Storms caused damage in Jacksonville Saturday, May 17, including snapped power poles. Photo: Contributed/Jacksonville/Morgan County Office of Emergency Management


Jacksonville, IL (WAND/CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Several businesses lost power in Jacksonville after several electric utility poles were damaged by a round of thunderstorms Saturday.

The Jacksonville/Morgan County Office of Emergency Management said damage was reported after thunderstorms passed through in the morning and early afternoon. The office posted photos of two damage electric utility poles on Morton Avenue, including one that was snapped in half.

According to storm reports submitted to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a number of photos submitted to them indicated storm damage, including power loss and flipped trailers.  One of the photos appeared to show a funnel cloud east of Jacksonville around 12:35 p.m. Saturday.  The cloud has not yet officially been confirmed

Several businesses in the area are without power, and the entrance to Walmart is blocked off while crews work on repairs, according to the office of emergency management.

The public was asked to avoid the area while crews work to safely repair the damage.  Authorities say most of the power outages were restored by 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

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