MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Severe storms Wednesday night knocked out power to more than 22,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers across Shelby County, leaving some residents without air conditioning on one of the hottest days of the year.
MLGW reported that the pop-up storm produced wind gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour. By Thursday morning, fewer than 2,000 customers remained without power in neighborhoods throughout Shelby County.
Among the affected areas was a neighborhood in the Medical District near Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where a large tree branch collapsed onto power lines on Meriwether Avenue.
Joel Bennette, a resident there, said he lost power around 8 p.m. Wednesday and still had no electricity when he left for work Thursday morning.
“I heard a big bang, sounded like a storm. It was real quick. The lights shut out. I fell asleep, and when I woke up the power was still out. Went to work, the power was still out,” Bennette said. “I’ve got a ten-month-old son, so I hope they can get it back on as soon as possible because it’s not safe for my son to be in such heat.”…