UPDATE: Power Restoration is 72 Percent to Goal

UPDATED 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 3

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, the City of Elmhurst released the following statement:

"ComEd reported 72 percent of Elmhurst’s power has been restored as of 5 p.m., and 4,851 ComEd customers remain without power at this time. ComEd crews will continue to work around the clock and through the Fourth of July holiday in order to restore power to those remaining customers as soon as possible.

"City Hall will be closed in observance of the Fourth of July on Wednesday however City Public Works crews will continue to work through the holiday, removing trees and clearing streets. A reminder to residents disposing of spoiled food etc., garbage pickup will be delayed by one day this week due to the Wednesday holiday. The City and ComEd are working closely together to ensure that the City is fully operational in as timely a manner as possible. We thank you for your continued patience as clean-up efforts and power restoration efforts continue.

EARLIER:

As we look forward to another 98-degree day, more than 6,000 ComEd customers in Elmhurst still are without power Tuesday morning, according to ComEd's outage map. That's down from 10,000 on Monday morning.

Elmhurst Public Library, City Hall, Elmhurst YMCA and a number of downtown businesses are still in the dark.

Power outages are widely scattered throughout the city, but ComEd crews have been seen around town since Monday working to restore the system. Most of the damage is due to lightning strikes and felled tree branches from

ComEd is reminding residents that Elmhurst was one of the hardest hit areas and full restoration could take another day or so. Restoration times listed in some areas of the city, including areas around Elmhurst College and near the Elmhurst YMCA, are listed as 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 4.

Residents also are frustrated with tree branch removal. On West Avenue, just south of St. Charles Road, very large tree branches still were blocking the roadway Tuesday morning.

Maureen Polte, who lives in that area, shared her "extreme frustration with ComEd."

"Almost two days later, and nothing," she said. "Our house is 86 degrees. It's unbearable and it hardly seems that ComEd is working hard for us over here."

Remember to check on elderly neighbors and others who may need assistance during this heat wave. For short-term cooling, the Elmhurst Police Department lobby is open, at 125 E. First St.  Benedictine University is a long-term cooling center for DuPage County, at 5700 College Road in Lisle. Call (630) 682-7925 or visit www.protectdupage.org for more information.

And please let us know how you're doing in the comments below.