Thursday Night Storms Left Impact on Oak Creek

A severe storm that brought rain and heavy winds to Oak Creek Thursday night left many We Energies customers in the dark Friday.

Crews were concentrated on an area north of Puetz Road and east of 13th Street by the railroad tracks, We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey said. Workers were having a tough time as that spot is wet and difficult to get to, he said.

At one time, about 2,000 Oak Creek customers were without power. By 9 a.m., that number had dwindled to about 400. A few still remained out Friday afternoon.

Across southeastern Wisconsin, more than 30,000 customers lost electricity.

The worst of the storms passed through Oak Creek around midnight. Residents living along Puetz Road appeared to get the worst of it.

According to Oak Creek police reports, the storm set off many alarms at businesses - including Petco, and - near the intersection of Howell and Puetz.

Country Oaks Apartments, 301 W. Puetz Road, was evacuated about 12:30 a.m. after electric meters were damaged, according to a police report.

Officers also responded to reports of tree branches in roads and stoplights not working.

Traffic signals at Puetz and Howell were finally functional by mid-Friday afternoon.