Update 6 – August 28, 2023 2:35 PM
The City of Mentor will begin storm debris collection efforts on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in response to damage caused throughout the city as a result of last Friday’s EF1 tornado. READ MORE.
Update 5 – August 27, 2023 10:28 AM
The Mentor Senior Center, located at 8484 Munson Road is open today until 3:00 PM as a comfort / charging station. Chargers are available but please bring yours as supply may be limited dependent on occupancy.
Arrangements for the removal of yard debris throughout affected areas will be announced tomorrow. Those with branches in excess of 6” in diameter are instructed to make their own arrangements with a private contractor.
Update 4 – August 26, 2023 11:51 AM
Mentor Avenue, Hopkins Road, and Johnnycake Ridge Road have been reopened. All major roads are now open. Several side streets remain closed as crews continue to clear debris and downed power lines from the roadways.
Update 3 – August 25, 2023 2:19 PM
The majority of roadways in Mentor are now passable with the exception of locations involving branches and wires. CEI is in the process of de-energizing downed power lines which remain entangled so that the Public Works Department can remove debris from the roadway. Motorists are advised to observe road closures and to treat nonfunctional traffic signals as four-way stops.
The Mentor Senior Center was opened at 7:00 AM this morning to operate as a community shelter. 17 people were served. None expressed long-term or overnight needs. The American Red Cross demobilized at 2:00 PM. The Mentor Senior Center will remain open tonight until 5:00 tonight. It will reopen Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
As per the NWS Cleveland Office, it has been determined that an EF1 tornado touched down in Mentor approximately ¼-mile west of Great Lakes Mall and continued on a path to Chillicothe Road. Wind speeds were estimated at 110 MPH. For additional information, please refer to the NWS.
CEI has indicated that power will be restored for 95% of CEI customers by 4:00 PM on August 30, 2023. Residents are strongly encouraged to make provisions for a long-term outage, especially in the hardest hit areas.
Residents using generators are also reminded to observe safety practices. Do not operate generators indoors or near windows.
Arrangements for the removal of yard debris throughout affected areas will be announced next week. Those with branches in excess of 6” in diameter are instructed to make their own arrangements with a private contractor.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Update 1 – August 25, 2023 6:29 AM
SR-84 has been reopened from SR-306 to SR-615
A tornado warning was issued shortly after midnight in Lake County. Tornado sirens were activated by the Lake County Emergency Management Agency.
Significant storm damage was experienced in the southwest sector of the city generally bounded on the north and south by SR-20 (Mentor Avenue) to SR-84 (Johnnycake Ridge Road) and SR-306 (Broadmoor Road) and SR-615 (Center Street) on the west and east.
A number of city streets are impassable at this time due to downed tree limbs and wires. Mentor Safety Forces teams are currently assessing damage and prioritizing response. Public works crews are focusing on reopening major throughways first before shifting to residential streets.
Major closures at the time of this release include:
- Hopkins Road between SR-20 and Chillicothe Road
- SR-306 underpass flooded
Mentor schools will be CLOSED on Friday, August 25, 2023.
The Mentor Senior Center, located at 8484 Munson Road will be open as a community shelter at 7:00 AM. Water and snacks will be provided.
Mentor safety and public works forces are fully staffed and operating to capacity. All calls for service have been answered.
Power outages are widespread throughout the area. Residents are advised to report all power outages directly to FirstEnergy at 1-888-544-4877 or online at www.outages.firstenergycorp.com.
Treat all downed wires as live. Report downed wires to the Mentor Dispatch non-emergency line at 440-255-1234.
It is unknown at this time if the damage was a result of a tornado touch-down. The National Weather Service will follow up on the severity of the burst.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.