Many Clevelanders are entering their fourth day with no power.
Mayor Justin Bibb said the city was working to support residents by opening centers for people to stay cool, charge devices and pick up ice or meals. In some cases, people were growing increasingly desperate to replace oxygen canisters or use machines that help treat breathing or sleep disorders.
First Energy said that this week’s storm, which knocked out power to more than 400,000 customers in Northeast Ohio, was the most “impactful” since a line of summer thunderstorms in 1993 left 300,000 in the dark.
The National Weather Service confirmed late Thursday that in some areas extensive damage to trees and power lines was caused by “macrobursts” of strong winds which can cause as much damage or more than tornadoes. Four tornadoes also touched down across the area, according to the weather service.
On Thursday, First Energy customers were crestfallen to learn that it could be Aug. 14 before power is fully restored, even though line crews were working 16-hour shifts.
Friday morning First Energy crews were working to restore power to more than 194,000 customers.
Cleveland Public Power said Friday morning its crews had power restored to about 21,069 residents and that 6,931 customers are still without power. The utility hopes to have power restored by the weekend, officials said.
Cleveland Public Power outage map
Need oxygen tanks or canisters? County and city officials said residents should call the number on the tank and ask for an emergency delivery.
Places to cool down, charge up
Cuyahoga County Public Library has 27 branches. Six are closed due to power outages and the rest are open for those who need to cool down, use the internet and charge devices. The closed branches are: Bay Village, Brook Park, Brooklyn, North Olmsted, Parma Heights & Richmond Heights.
All Cleveland Public Library branches are closed today for staff training.
Cleveland Recreation and Health Centers and other resources
Several Cleveland recreation centers and two health centers are open with extended hours to 11 p.m. You can charge a phone or a medical device, though outlets may be limited. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank will deliver meals to the centers Friday a 1 p.m.
On the East Side
Zelma Watson George Recreation Center at 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., (216) 420-8821
Collinwood Recreation Center at 16300 Lakeshore Blvd., (216) 420-8323
J Glen Smith Health Center at 11100 St. Clair
Gatewood Home, located at 532 E. 185 St., has wifi, free water and coffee, spirits for purchase, a game room with video and board games, and a fence-in backyard with tables and chairs, a grill, fire pit and basketball hoops.
On the West Side
Cudell Recreation Center at 1910 West Blvd (216) 664-4137
Michael Zone Recreation Center at 6301 Lorain Ave (216) 664-3373
McCafferty Health Center at 4242 Lorain
Kirby Manor, 11500 Detroit Rd., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cleveland Liberation Center, 9801 Denison Ave., opens at 9 a.m. with wifi, charging, activities for kids, lunch 12-2 p.m., a family-friendly movie at 3 p.m. and dinner 7-9 p.m.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank services
Aug. 9 produce distribution
MetroHealth Parma, 12301 Snow Rd., Parma, 216-409-3002, 9-11 a.m.
Bethany Baptist Church, 1211 E. 105th St., 216-509-5156, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center, 1834 E. 55th St., 216-924-7193, 1-4 p.m.
Aug 9. pantries
Brookside Family Center, 3764 Pearl Rd., 216-541-1444, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
University Settlement, 4800 Broadway, 216-641-8948 x136, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., 216-738-2067, 9-11 a.m.
Aug. 10 produce distribution
Fairhill Partners, 12200 Fairhill Rd., 216-299-9225, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave., 440-349-9941, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
New Second Metropolitan Baptist Church, 2244 E. 55th St., 216-374-1928, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Second St. John Baptist Church, 717 E. 125th St., 216-258-1232, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church, 5020 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst, 216-401-0414, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Aug. 10 pantries
Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., 216-738-2067, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
South Euclid United Church of Christ, 4217 Bluestone Rd., South Euclid, 216-658-4254, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Call the Food Bank’s help center at 216-738-2067 to find the nearest pantry or mobile pantry.
Replace spoiled food purchased with SNAP benefits.
If you receive SNAP benefits and your power was out for more than four hours, you can request benefits to replace food you lost. You 10 days to request benefits.
- Fill out this form.
- Document the amount of food you lost. Take a photo of your refrigerator or provide a grocery store receipt if you have it.
- You can’t request more than the amount of benefits you get in one month.
Ice, ice, maybe
FirstEnergy said free water and ice is available at 14 Giant Eagle stores, including seven in Cuyahoga County. The utility said the residents without power could each get a bag of ice and two gallons of water. On Thursday, residents posted online that at least one location –Westlake Market District – wasn’t able to participate because its registers were down.
Avon Lake Giant Eagle – 31990 Walker Road
Route 82 and I-77 Giant Eagle – 4343 Royalton Road
Biddulph Plaza Giant Eagle – 6300 Biddulph Road
Chesterland Giant Eagle – 12692 Chillicothe Road
Day Drive Giant Eagle – 7939 Day Drive
Midway Mall Giant Eagle Elyria – 320 Market Drive
Southgate Giant Eagle Maple Heights – 5321 Warrensville Center Road
Tyler & Center Giant Eagle – 8383 Tyler Blvd.
Middlefield Giant Eagle – 15400 West High Street
North Madison Giant Eagle – 6556 North Ridge Road
Parma-Broadview Rd Giant Eagle – 7400 Broadview Road
Strongsville Market District – 15919 Pearl Road
Westlake Market District – 30275 Detroit Road (When registered re-open)
Willoughby Commons Giant Eagle 36475 Euclid Avenue
The free giveaway will continue through next Wednesday (Aug. 14) or while supplies last.
What about medications that need refrigeration?
Check the specific instructions on medications. Some, such as insulin pens, can last at room temperature for up to 28 days.
What should I do with waste from the storm?
Cleveland will continue its regular garbage pick up this week. It will not issue any citations for garbage outside of cans.
On the curb you can set out:
- Debris from any flooding
- Fallen trees branches or cut up trees
- Spoiled food in your black garbage cart on your normal trash day
The city will send extra crews out on Aug. 10 to collect additional waste.
Public Works Director Frank Williams asked for patience and said crews may need to take several passes to pick up all the trash. “Don’t fret, we are coming back,” he told City Council members in an email.
If you have a truck, and tree branches to get rid of, take them to any of the eight Kurtz Bros. locations. The closest one to Cleveland is 5915 Canal Rd. in Valley View.
The city will send extra crews out on Aug. 10 to collect additional waste.
Public Works Director Frank Williams asked for patience and said crews may need to take several passes to pick up all the trash. “Don’t fret, we are coming back,” he told City Council members in an email.
If you have a truck, and tree branches to get rid of, take them to any of the eight Kurtz Bros. locations. The closest one to Cleveland is 5915 Canal Rd. in Valley View.