Storm takes out trees, power lines in Wauwatosa

Shortly after a severe thunderstorm rolled through Wauwatosa the evening of Monday, June 30, customers at Hector's on State Street were dining in the dark, using candles and cell phones to light their meals and bills.

"We lost power at 10 after 6, and it ruined our business," said bartender Steve Bruggink. "But that's Mother Nature for you."

They weren't alone. High-speed winds took out countless trees and power lines throughout the city Monday. About 790 We Energies customers in Wauwatosa still lacked power Tuesday afternoon, according to We Energies spokesman Barry McNulty. Crews were working to restore it by 11 p.m. Wednesday.

"We're throwing everything we can toward it," McNulty said Tuesday.

About 120,000 We Energies customers lost power in the storm in the utility's coverage area, which includes Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, McNulty said. About 27,000 were still without it Tuesday.

We Energies crews weren't the only ones busy responding to the storm. Wauwatosa Fire Deputy Chief Stacey Lueptow said the department responded to 43 storm-related incidents.

"There was basically downed wires, trees on houses and garages, trees in the way of the road," Lueptow said Tuesday. "We make sure they're safe and call on We Energies or DPW to clear the trees."