Cleveland, OH

Thousands without power as severe storms sweep across Northern Ohio

Published

9 months ago

April 3, 2025

Thousands without power as severe storms sweep across Northern Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Widespread power outages impacted about 5,000 FirstEnergy customers on Wednesday as severe storms swept across Northern Ohio.

That number has since dropped to a few hundred throughout the state as of 6:25 p.m.

If severe weather busts your pipes or knocks out your power, you can find contact information below for several Northeast Ohio utility companies.

Cleveland Public Power, The Illuminating Company and Cleveland Water Department are on standby for outages and emergencies amid severe winter weather.(Source: WOIO)

Customers who may be left without power after the storm are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the “Report Outage” link on the FirstEnergy website.

You can also make reports online for power outages or fallen utility poles with FirstEnergy or AEPOhio.

In the event of severe weather, customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department. Residents should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity.

Extra caution should be used to avoid and to keep pets away from areas where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.

Some tips to prepare for possible outages from severe weather:

Keep electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops, and tablet computers fully charged to be ready for any emergencies.
Keep a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries handy. Tune to a local station for current storm information.
Never use a portable generator inside the house or a closed garage. Ensure the proper generator is selected and installed by a qualified electrician. When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazard for utility workers.
Gather extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person. Do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters or other open-flame heat sources indoors, as they could release deadly carbon monoxide gas into your home.
If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water.
Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking.
Mobile phones can be charged in your vehicle when the power is out. This will ensure you have access to online information sources.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland salt mine works year-round to keep Ohio roads safe

Published

10 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Cleveland salt mine works year-round to keep Ohio roads safe

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Road safety across Ohio begins 1,800 feet below Lake Erie at Cleveland’s Cargill salt mine near Whiskey Island.

19 News made the journey under ground to Cleveland’s Cargill salt time.

Superintendent of production Andrew Staker describes the operation as a “mini-city” where about 250 employees produce the salt that clears our roads and sidewalks.

“We provide over half the salt used here in the state of Ohio. Our salt also goes all over the Great Lakes Region even Virginia,” said Staker.

Thousands of tons of salt pass through this belt, and 500-700 trucks are loaded with salt each day.

Staker said his team works nonstop.

“It’s a big misconception that the mine is only busy during the wintertime,” said Staker. “We prepare in the springtime, so it is full giddy up. We are making salt all year round.”

Just like everyone else, Staker and his time are feeling the effects of winter’s early arrival.

“We take a lot of it snowfall by snowfall, so as demand ramps up, our teams here will put in extra overtime days to be able to meet customer demand,” said Staker.

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Cleveland, OH

Semi-truck rips down power lines in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood for 4th time since July

Published

22 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Semi-truck rips down power lines in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood for 4th time since July

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The city of Cleveland is looking into why wires are dangling from West 25th Street in Ohio City.

Sam McNulty, owner of Nano Brew, says trucks are ripping through wires at the intersection of 25th Street and Bridge Avenue.

“4 times that cable has gone down,” McNulty said. “We’re shocked that whoever is in charge of that cable hasn’t figured out a way to elevate it a little bit more.”

In July, Ring doorbell footage caught a semi hitting the wires. You could see the wires falling to the ground.

Luckily, McNulty said, it’s a communication wire, but that doesn’t make the problem go away.

“This is a very active street tons of pedestrians, bicyclists, families, people are here almost 24 hours a day,” said McNulty.

The most recent incident was Thursday morning. McNulty says a crew wrapped ropes around the fallen wire.

“I am definitely not a line engineer but when I see random rope tied with pretty sketchy looking knots holding the cable up I think that’s probably not Osha approved,” said McNulty.

19 News reached out to the city of Cleveland, which said it is looking into the issue.

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Cleveland, OH

Ohio National Guard members from Cleveland save woman while stationed in D.C.

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Ohio National Guard members from Cleveland save woman while stationed in D.C.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -A group of Ohio National Guard members, some from Cleveland, saved a woman’s life last week while on the Joint Task Force D.C. mission in the nation’s capital.

According to officials with the Army, a group of four soldiers from the 323rd Military Police Company, Ohio Army National Guard were on routine patrol when they heard a husband frantically calling for help.

The group of four, including Staff Sgt. Jered Moran, Sgt. James Nelson, Sgt. Jeremiah Slagle and Spc. Gogo Simitcievski, ran about the length of a football field to see if they could help.

Four Ohio National Guard members, some from Cleveland, were honored this week for saving a woman’s life in D.C. while on patrol.(Source: DVIDS JTF-DC)

When they arrived they found an unresponsive 34-year-old woman in the driver’s seat of a car and found she had no pulse and was not breathing.

The team immediately began CPR and rescue breaths in shifts for about six minutes before and ambulance arrived.

“To be on this mission is an honor,” said Moran. “My Soldiers and I are proud Ohioans and are grateful for the opportunity to serve in our nation’s capital by helping others.”

Officials have confirmed the woman was taken to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The four men were recognized at a small ceremony this week and continue their mission in D.C.

According to the Army the four, “received a Coin from the D.C. National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sergeant Major Ronald L. Smith, recognizing them for lifesaving actions.”

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