Duke Energy restores power to all Columbus homes by 6 p.m. Monday

Duke Energy employees used a bucket truck to retore lines off of Franklin Street north of 25th Street near Tipton Drive. Photo provided

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Crews for Duke Energy have restored power to all homes in Columbus that lost power after a thunderstorm that spawned tornados in neighboring counties swept through the city this weekend, breaking numerous utility poles, bringing down power lines and knocking down trees.

As of 6 p.m. Monday evening, power had been restored to the roughly 105 customers who were still without power two days after the thunderstorm, said Duke Energy spokesman Chip Orben. At one point, 24,000 customers in the Columbus area were without power.

In Columbus, there was damage in Donner Park, known for its huge trees, and walkers and joggers were stopping there to take photos of splintered tree trunks on Sunday and Monday. Local officials said the northern part of Bartholomew County took the hardest hits from the storm.

Straight line winds were most likely the cause of the damage, with some estimates being at 70 mph to 80 mph during the storm, officials said.