lighting tornado storm picture

Over half a million residents in the Chicago area were left without power as a result of the fast moving storms that hit around 8 pm Eastern Time on Monday night. According to a news report in the Chicago Tribune, just under 10,000 customers are still in the dark today. What hit a city like a freight train, sending citizens running for cover still has one area in search of power. Some Commonweath Edison customers were still without power nearly four days later, although a spokesperson did say that:

ComEd is optimistic in getting power restored by 6 p.m

CBS Chicago described Monday's event as an "atmosphere of panic":

The skies were dark and treacherous for much of the game between the Cubs and the Houston Astros. The telecast of the game was interrupted for an Emergency Alert System broadcast announcing a tornado warning for areas west of Chicago.

As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, at about 8:10 p.m., winds that seemed near gale force began raking the area and the air raid siren that stands sentinel outside Wrigley Field began howling, along with all the other sirens in the city.

Passengers at O'Hare International Airport were evacuated into the lower levels of the complex's buildings.

A few people darted into the violent rain and spinning winds, narrowly missing traffic. Warning sirens sent pedestrians scrambling into high-rises and train stations for shelter.

The storms took the city by surprise, sending residents scrambling into buildings and bars, desperately looking anywhere to find shelter. The winds blew strong enough to knock people around and one man was critically injured by a falling tree. Customers who have sustained damages due to loss of electricity are not eligible for refunds because of a state law that prevents such refunds for weather related power outages. At least residents can expect cool temperatures today, with the high in the mid 70s range.