Storms cut off power at U. of I.

URBANA -- Powerful windstorms that swept through central Illinois cut off power to thousands of people, including virtually all of the University of Illinois' main Champaign-Urbana campus.

The storms moved rapidly through the area Sunday afternoon, and Ameren spokesman Neal Johnson says downed utility poles and wires left more than 9,000 customers without power in Champaign County alone.

Power was restored in most areas by late Sunday night.

On the UI campus, virtually every building was without power for about four hours before the school's own emergency generators were fully activated.