Storm knocks out power in Cape Girardeau area

A thunderstorm sweeping through the Cape Girardeau area Thursday knocked out power to more than 1,000 electric customers.

At 7:40 p.m. Thursday, AmerenUE reported 1,061 customers without electricity.

In the city of Cape Girardeau alone, there were about 400 customers without power due to the weather, according to Ameren spokeswoman Susan Gallagher.

The thunderstorm that moved through Thursday afternoon caused "significant damage" that affected operations, including lightning strikes and fallen trees on power lines, Gallagher said.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to 12 calls of downed lines during the storm, fire Capt. Richard Lyke said.

By 9 p.m., power had been restored to all but 395 customers in the Cape Girardeau area.

According to the National Weather Service, 1.75 inches of rainfall was recorded in the Cape Girardeau area between 3 and 6 p.m. Thursday. This was coupled with 2.69 inches that fell on Tuesday and Wednesday.