More Than 900 FirstEnergy Customers Powerless On East Side

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — More than 360 people are currently without power in Cleveland Heights, FirstEnergy said. Another 656 people are without power in neighboring University Heights.

Power should be restored to the majority of impacted east side residents by 7:30 p.m., the energy company said on its outages website.

Powerful thunderstorms swept through the area in the mid-afternoon. Booming thunder portended sheets of rain, as humid temperatures produced off-and-then-on storms. Skies curiously remained blue during Monday's showers.

To find more information on local outages, visit the FirstEnergy outages map.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has several tips for customers impacted by a power outage. "Unplug all major appliances and electronics, such as computers and televisions, to protect them from a possible power surge when the power comes back on. By leaving one light on, you will be able to tell when your service is restored," the group said.

Residents should also use flashlights, if the outages continue until after the sun sets. "Be aware that during an outage, gas appliances with electronic ignitions will not work because electricity is needed to ignite the natural gas. Appliances requiring fans or other electric devices to run (such as central air conditioning units and gas clothes dryers) will not operate," PUCO said.

For more tips on how to handle a power outage, click here.

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Graphic from Patch