Storms rock area overnight

No major injuries were reported during Wednesday night’s storm, but that doesn’t take into account the heavy rain and hail that left drivers stranded and sent pedestrians running.

Leon Daggett, director of Independence Power and Light, said approximately 5,000 homes lost power during the height of the storm. 

“There were several lightning strikes,” Daggett said. “We lost four operating circuits, but they were damaged because of downed trees.”

By 7 a.m., only 450 homes were without power, Daggett said.

In Blue Springs, approximately 2,400 residents lost power at the height of the storm, according to Al Butkus, spokesperson for Aquila Energy.

“The majority of those customers are back on line,” he said. 

The storm, sweeping into Eastern Jackson County at about 7 p.m., pummeled the metropolitan area with heavy rain and widespread power outages. Police had to close Interstate 70 near the downtown loop because of high flood water.

Dispatchers for Blue Springs and Independence reported no major injuries because of the storm, but there were several downed trees and power lines. Many drivers pulled off on the side of the road and waited out the downpour, according to dispatchers.          

Approximately 2.83 inches of rain fell from 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to 6:30 a.m. today, according to Frank Haight, weather observer for Independence for the National Weather Service.

On I-70 near the Woods Chapel Road exit, a traffic sign was torn from its base.