Winds Cause Power Outages, Damage

Updated at 9:20 p.m.

More than 1,600 people in Avon were without power Thursday afternoon after powerful winds swept through the region.

The winds blew through the area overnight, averaging about 3o miles an hour, the National Weather Service in Cleveland said. Around 5 a.m., they started getting stronger and a gust of 67 miles an hour was reported at Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland just before 5:30 a.m.

Mark Durbin, a spokesperson for First Energy, said that 53,000 were without power from Avon to Ashtabula as of 10:30 a.m.

By 5 p.m., Durbin said, all but about 20 homes in Avon had power restored. Neighboring Avon Lake fared worse, with 2,300 homes still without power Thursday night.

It may be Saturday before power is restored for everyone, he said.

"Repairs take longer after a wind event like this," he explained. "Because the outages are usually caused by downed trees or tree limbs. We have to clear those first before we can begin repairs to the lines."

Durbin reminded people to not assume that their neighbors have reported an outage to First Energy. The more people report, he said, the better idea the company has for how affected an area is.

Also, if you come across a downed power line, stay away from it and make sure kids and pets stay away. Call First Energy and police.

Avon fire chief Frank Root said there were about six calls that morning to his department over downed trees and power lines.

Joe Work, owner of , said he'll probably be busy in the coming days taking care of damaged landscaping and yards for clients. His own house on Stoney Ridge Road suffered minor damage when a tree limb fell, tearing off siding, some flashing, and gutters.

Avon services director Jerry Plas said that a few streets had trees or tree limbs on them early this morning, but those were cleared quickly. Traffic signals at Avon Commons and Detroit Road, and the intersection of Chester Road and Route 83, were damaged in the wind and should be repaired by early afternoon.