Monday night’s thunderstorm produced a heavy workload for local law enforcement.
Odessa Police Department spokesperson Cpl. Steve LeSueur said Tuesday morning that Monday’s storm had 55 alarm calls, 32 crashes, one high-water rescue and a handful of reports of power outages or stoplights being out.
“It’s not uncommon for us to experience these calls, especially from the storm that happened last night,” LeSueur said.
LeSueur said none of Monday’s 32 crashes were fatal or life-threatening injuries.
The lone high-water rescue OPD and Odessa Fire Rescue responded to was at 4301 E. 42nd St., near Genghis Grill at the Music City Mall, LeSueur said.
There were also numerous debris calls with the largest being a tree blocking the roadway at 13th Street and Golder Avenue near Odessa High School. OPD also notified Union Pacific about damage to the crossing arm at Second Street and Muskingum Avenue.
The power or stoplight outages included the intersections of 31st Street and Maple Avenue, 13th Street and Jackson Avenue, 42nd Street and Lyndale Drive, Eighth Street and Hancock Avenue, 14th Street and Dixie Avenue, University Boulevard and Dawn Avenue and Kermit Highway and University.
LeSueur also said power went out several times at the police station and a transformer blew causing power outage in the area.
At 8:54 a.m., Ector County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Gary Duesler sent out an email to inform the public that sheriff’s office phone lines were out, but 911 was still active. Phones were back in service at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Duesler said Tuesday morning the phones at ECSO have been off and on since 5 p.m. Monday afternoon.
Duesler said over email ECSO saw an increase in alarm calls from Monday’s storm.
